Box Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Despite a furious ninth inning rally, the Belmont University baseball team lost their first game since Opening Day on Saturday, falling 6-5 to Dayton at E.S. Rose Park.
The loss snaps a ten-game winning streak, the longest for the Bruins since they started the 2010 season 10-0.
Trailing 6-3 entering the ninth inning, the Bruins got a leadoff single from Jackson Campbell and a one-out pinch-hit single from Blake Barton to put two runners on. After a wild pitch allowed Campbell to get to third and Barton to second, Jack Rando grounded out to score Campbell, bringing it to a 6-4 game. Guy Lipscomb then singled up the middle to drive in Barton and cut the deficit to one run, but John Behrends was retired to end the game.
Dayton (6-3) hit two home runs on a windy day at E.S. Rose Park, the first time Belmont (10-2) had given up multiple home runs in a single game this season. Coming into the game, the Bruins had allowed just two home runs in 11 games.
Andy Bean (L, 2-1) took the loss on the mound. Aaron Hubbell pitched well in relief for Belmont, going 3 2/3 innings with two hits and only one run allowed. Dusty Baird pitched the eighth and ninth innings, allowing one run on two hits and two walks. On the day, Belmont pitchers issued ten walks, the most in a game this season.
After Dayton went ahead 1-0 in the first inning, Belmont responded with a single from Carson Shacklett and a double from Jackson Campbell before a wild pitch scored Shacklett from third. Tommy Crider delivered his second RBI hit of the series with a single to right field to give Belmont a 2-1 lead.
The Flyers brought across three runs in the third inning to take a 4-2 lead, but the Bruins made it a one-run game on a single to right field from Logan Jarvis that drove in Lipscomb.
Dayton added insurance runs in the seventh and ninth inning to build up enough cushion to withstand the Belmont ninth inning rally.
Belmont will take on Dayton in a rubber match on Sunday at E.S. Rose Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. Audio play-by-play will be available on the Bruin Sports Network, and live stats can be found at BelmontBruins.com
