Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Belmont University baseball team lost its first extra innings game of the season, falling short to Tennessee Tech 7-6 on Tuesday night at Rose Park.
The mid-week game between the two teams will not be reflected in the Ohio Valley Conference standings and was treated as a regular season non-conference game.
Junior Grayson Taylor led the Bruins offensively with three hits in five at-bats, tying his career-high and marking the third time in his career with a three-hit game. Freshman Lane Lamberth recorded a career-high four strikeouts in 2.2 innings pitched, with the Belmont pitching staff combining for eight strikeouts on the night.
Sophomore John Behrends set up Belmont's first scoring opportunity of the game with a one-out double in the bottom of the first inning, scoring off an RBI double from junior Logan Jarvis. Taylor hit a two-out single later in the inning to score Jarvis from second base, giving the Bruins an early 2-0 lead.
A walk and a single in the bottom of the third inning put two Belmont runners at the corners, scoring the third run of the game off a double play. Tennessee Tech, however, responded with four runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 4-3 lead.
After a scoreless fifth inning and two leadoff walks in the bottom of the sixth inning, sophomore Carson Shacklett hit a single up the middle to bring home the tying run. Belmont loaded the bases later in the inning, driving in the go-ahead run thanks to a sacrifice fly from freshman Brodey Heaton.
Drawing a leadoff walk and hitting a single to put runners at the corners, Belmont added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning with Heaton's second sacrifice fly of the evening to extend the lead 6-4. Despite Tennessee Tech drawing a leadoff walk in the top of the ninth inning, Belmont collected two flyouts and looked to secure the win. The Golden Eagles, however, hit a two-run home run to tie the game and eventually force extra innings.
A fielding error, wild pitch and a sacrifice bunt put a Tennessee Tech runner 90 feet away from scoring, taking advantage of the opportunity with a two-out single to give the Golden Eagles the one-run edge in the top of the 10th inning. Belmont came up with a two-out double in the final half-inning, but Tennessee Tech forced a foul out to give them their third win over the Bruins this season.
Belmont (19-19, 11-10) returns to OVC play, facing SEMO at Rose Park starting on Friday at 4 p.m. Live stats and Bruin Sports Network will be available to fans while ESPN+ will broadcast Friday's game only. 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, per Belmont University guidelines. Individuals who have been vaccinated or previously tested positive for COVID-19 are NOT exempt from this requirement. Spectators not in compliance with face coverings at Rose Park will be asked to leave the facility.
