NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Belmont University baseball team continues Ohio Valley Conference play this weekend at Rose Park, facing Eastern Illinois starting on Friday at 4 p.m.
Belmont leads the all-time series with Eastern Illinois 13-12-1, winning two of the last three games against the Panthers. The Bruins are looking for its second consecutive series win against EIU.
Despite a 4-5 conference record, Eastern Illinois currently leads the OVC in eight statistical categories. The Panthers are the most high-powered offensive team in the conference, leading the way with a .281 batting average and a .375 on-base percentage. EIU has also driven in 162 runs this season and has recorded 232 hits.
Logan Eickhoff leads EIU and the OVC with a .435 batting average, also leading both EIU and the OVC in hits with 40. His hitting mate, Trey Sweeney, adds significant depth to the Panthers' offense. He currently leads the OVC in slugging percentage (.764), on-base percentage (.518), runs (27), RBIs (36), and total bases (68). EIU's bullpen has also been clutch in closing out games in 2021, currently leading the conference in saves with eight.
Freshman Jack Rando has been the definition of a team player for Belmont this season, executing the art of the sacrifice bunt. Rando is currently fourth in all of NCAA Division I Baseball with six sacrifice bunts, leading the Ohio Valley Conference in that category in the process.
Sophomore Carson Shacklett and junior Logan Jarvis have helped the Bruins this season by getting on base, especially drawing walks. Shacklett is currently 21st in NCAA Division I Baseball with 20 walks this season, co-leading the OVC in that category. Jarvis ranks 46th in that category with 18 walks in 2021.
Game Notes
The bat of sophomore John Behrends has caught fire, leading the Bruins with a .392 batting average and snagging a career-high four RBIs on Wednesday against Trevecca. Behrends is currently on a nine-game hitting streak and if he collects at least one hit in Friday's game against EIU, it would mark the second time in the last three seasons where a Belmont player had 10-game hitting streak. His teammate, Grayson Taylor, was the last Bruin to accomplish that mark, doing so from April 13-28 in the 2019 season.
Belmont has proven that they are never out of an inning when they are down to their last out. Over 25 percent of Belmont's runs scored this season have been with two outs, with the Bruins scoring 29 total runs in 2021 when they are down to their last out. The Bruins have also hit a pair of home runs with two outs this season.
Head coach Dave Jarvis is eyeing the all-time wins record at Belmont, where he currently has compiled 658 wins in his 24 years as the Bruins' head coach. Jarvis needs just six more wins to pass Dave Whitten (1969-1997) to become the winningest head coach in program history. Jarvis and Whitten had a close relationship until Whitten's death in 2012, where Whitten served as an assistant and pitching coach under Jarvis from 1998-2000.
First pitch for Friday's game is set for 4 p.m., with live stats and Bruin Sports Network scheduled to broadcast all three games via online radio. Grandstand seating will be limited to 20 percent of the maximum occupancy. Belmont Athletics will identify where fans can and cannot sit in the grandstands. Belmont Athletics asks fans to observe the reconfigured seating arrangement, including any seats marked as "Reserved". Attendees are required to always wear masks or face coverings at Rose Park, pursuant to Order 8: Cloth Face Coverings or Mask Order issued by Metro Nashville's Chief Medical Director of Health.
