Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Thanks to junior Jackson Campbell's game-winning RBI in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Belmont University baseball team took game one of its series with Morehead State 4-3 on Friday at Rose Park by way of a walk-off.
The Bruins, who collected five walk-off wins in the shortened 2020 season, came up with their first walk-off win of the season. Sophomore Joshua South struck out five batters in 7.1 innings pitched while junior Kyle Brennan picked up his fourth win of the season, not allowing a hit in the final 1.2 innings.
"We've known all along that (the team) are really good competitors and we've known all along that their mind was right," head coach Dave Jarvis said. "It's hard to explain sometimes when a team gets into a funk and we've definitely been in a funk for the last 12 games or so. I'm glad to see our kids come back and still keep competing and I think that is a testament to their character."
A walk and a Belmont fielding error in the top of the third inning allowed two Morehead State runners to advance to the corners, with a sacrifice fly later in the inning breaking the scoreless tie that gave the Eagles the early 1-0 advantage. Morehead State followed that up with a leadoff single in the top of the fourth inning, extending its lead to three runs off a two-run home run.
Belmont managed to get two runners on base in the next half-inning, responding with their first run of the game thanks to an RBI double from freshman Jack Rando. Following a strikeout, Belmont cut Morehead State's deficit to one run after Morehead State was called for a balk.
After three consecutive shutout innings, a double by sophomore John Behrends put the tying run in scoring position for Belmont in the bottom of the eighth inning. Junior Logan Jarvis answered the bell in the next at-bat, hitting an RBI single to right field to make it a 3-3 game.
Rando drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the ninth inning that put the go-ahead run on first base, where freshman Austin Ehren hit a bunt single in the next at-bat that moved Rando into scoring position. A pair of stolen bases allowed Rando and Ehren to move up a base with one out, where Campbell drove in Rando from third base that allowed the Bruins to take the game one win.
"I just wanted to get the ball in play," Campbell said. "That's all I had to do to score that run. That's what I was trying to do and that's what I did."
Belmont (21-29, 13-15) wraps up the 2021 regular season with a doubleheader against Morehead State on Saturday at Rose Park starting at 1 p.m. Fans are encouraged to arrive at Rose Park at 12:30 p.m., where Belmont will recognize its seniors in a special presentation.
Grandstand seating at Rose Park will still 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".
