Box Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A big day at the plate for Grayson Taylor and a record-setting save from Kyle Brennan powered the Belmont University baseball team to a 6-4 win over Austin Peay on Sunday at E.S. Rose Park.
The victory clinches a series win over the Governors to open up OVC action.
Belmont (16-9, 2-1 OVC) clung to a 6-3 lead when Brennan entered with one out in the ninth inning and the tying run at the plate.
By securing the win, Brennan earned his NCAA-leading tenth save of the season and the 27th save of his career, breaking Jon Ivie's (2008-11) all-time program record mark of 26 saves.
Jalen Borders (W, 2-1) tossed six shutout innings on the mound for the Bruins, scattering just three hits while recording three strikeouts. The Belmont defense turned a season-high three double plays behind him, with Taylor, Jack Rando, and Brodey Heaton playing a hand in turning all three to help out the sophomore left-hander.
Taylor broke out of a mini-slump in a big way, going 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, and two RBIs.
The junior shortstop highlighted what was tremendous production from the bottom third of the Bruin order, with Taylor, Rando, and Sam Hedges combining to go 5-for-9 with two RBIs and two walks.
Even without Guy Lipscomb in the lineup, the Bruins dominated on the basepaths, collecting six stolen bases in the victory.
Belmont opened up the scoring in the third inning when Rando sent a deep fly ball to center field that allowed Hedges to tag and score from third base.
Later, in the fifth, John Behrends sent a single up the middle to drive in Taylor and bring the score to 2-0 in favor of the home side. In the same inning, Brodey Heaton reached on an error by the Austin Peay pitcher that allowed Carson Shacklett to score and bring the lead to 3-0.
Taylor tacked on two more insurance runs in the sixth inning when he tattooed a ball over the left-center fence with Rando already aboard. The homer was Taylor's third of the season.
After Borders exited following his sixth shutout inning, Aaron Hubbell tossed the seventh and Will Jenkins pitched the eighth and recorded the first out in the ninth, setting the stage for Brennan to pick up his record-breaking save.
Belmont will have their first week of the season where there is no scheduled midweek game. The Bruins will next travel to Murray, Ky., to face the Murray State Racers next weekend in a three-game conference series. First pitch on Friday in Murray is scheduled for 3 p.m.
