Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Belmont University baseball team was unable to complete the sweep against Murray State on Sunday at Rose Park, with the Bruins falling to the Racers 2-0.
Junior Logan Jarvis and freshman Jack Rando led Belmont offensively with two hits each while sophomore Aaron Hubbell and freshman Jalen Borders struck out three batters each on the mound. Murray State's Sam Gardner pitched a complete game shutout, striking out nine Belmont batters without allowing a walk.
"(Gardner) had a plus fastball today and threw three pitches for strikes effectively," head coach Dave Jarvis said. "When a pitcher has a plus fastball and three effective pitches that are thrown in the zone and they're not opening the door or giving you anything, it's going to be tough to scratch something out."
The Racers looked to get on the board early in the top of the third inning, loading the bases with one out. Murray State hit a liner, but freshman Brodey Heaton caught the lineout and tagged the runner out at first to keep the zeros on the scoreboard.
Three consecutive singles to start the top of the fifth inning opened the door for Murray State to strike first, scoring off a fielder's choice following a strikeout to take an early 1-0 lead. Graduate student Connor Anderson struck out the only batter he faced later in the inning, preventing any further damage.
After forcing a double play to end the top of the seventh inning, Belmont retired the next four batters to keep it a one-run game with one out in the top of the ninth inning. Murray State drew a walk in the next at-bat and the Racer runner advanced to second base off a wild pitch during a Kyle Brennan strikeout.
Murray State added an insurance run thanks to an RBI single with two outs later in the inning before a caught stealing play put the Bruins on offense for a chance to tie or take the lead in the bottom of the ninth. Gardner, however, forced two strikeouts and a flyout in the final inning that secured the shutout win for the Racers.
With Murray State's victory on Sunday, Belmont had its seven-game winning streak over the Racers dating back to the 2019 season snapped.
"Today, we had a couple of defensive miscues that I feel like don't necessarily show up in the box score. But they make a difference in the outcome of the ball game," Jarvis said. "That's taking nothing away from Murray State and the way they came out and battled today. Tip of the cap to them and their pitcher for doing an outstanding job on the mound. I want to make sure we communicate those defensive miscues, clean those up and continue to try to have a little bit better approach at the plate."
Belmont (16-17, 9-9) makes a Nashville road trip at Lipscomb on Wednesday in the Battle of the Boulevard at 6 p.m.
