Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Behind a complete game shutout from sophomore pitcher Joshua South, the Belmont University baseball team cruised to an 11-0 win over SIUE on Friday at Rose Park.
The two-time Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week and Preseason OVC Pitcher of the Year recorded his second complete game shutout in the last three seasons, last doing so on March 10, 2019 against Morehead State. With South only allowing four hits while collecting six strikeouts, sophomore John Behrends recorded a career-high four hits while tying a career-high three RBIs at the plate.
"100 percent it's the defense behind me," South said. "They made some phenomenal plays and if they don't make a couple of those plays, it's a whole different ball game."
A double from freshman Mason Landers, a walk and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for Belmont in the bottom of the second inning with two outs. Behrends capitalized off the opportunity, hitting a single up the middle to bring home the first two runs on the board. An RBI single from junior Logan Jarvis in the following at-bat allowed the Bruins to extend its lead 3-0.
With another bases loaded opportunity in the bottom of the fourth inning, sophomore Jack Capobainco hit a single to right center field that scored two runs and pushed the Bruins' lead out to five. Capobianco's stolen base attempt later in the inning allowed freshman Guy Lipscomb to steal home, extending Belmont's lead 6-0.
"Strike zone discipline was the key today for us," Logan Jarvis said. "We stayed on-base a lot even if we weren't driving guys in. So I think it made it hard on them, always having to pitch down the stretch."
Two walks and a single loaded the bases for Belmont once again in the bottom of the sixth inning, with Heaton driving in a run with a grounder that resulted in a fielder's choice. Another run would score after an SIUE throwing error, giving Belmont eight unanswered runs.
Belmont capped off its scoring run in the bottom of the seventh inning, with a groundout to second base putting another run on the board for the Bruins. A left field double from Behrends allowed junior Jackson Campbell to score Belmont's 10th run of the game later in the inning, with an RBI single from Brodey Heaton capping off the Bruins' run count at 11.
"Winning this first game is extremely important. It puts us in a position tomorrow where we can come out and win the series," head coach Dave Jarvis said. "What a tremendous effort from Joshua South. He conserved his pitch count and conserved his energy. He just did an outstanding job and had a decent defense behind him. They did a good job for him. Of course, he takes pressure off of our offense and our offense takes pressure off him as well. All around, just an outstanding performance and as a team and this sets the tone for the series."
Belmont (5-8, 2-2) will aim to close out the series against SIUE on Saturday, with a doubleheader scheduled for 1 p.m. at Rose Park.
