(rv) Belmont (10-3) vs. Evansville (3-9)
E.S. Rose Park | Nashville, Tenn.
Wednesday, March 9 | 4 p.m.
ESPN+ | Live Stats | Game Notes
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Belmont University baseball team will welcome a familiar non-conference foe to E.S. Rose Park on Wednesday, as they take on Evansville at 4 p.m.
With the exception of the 2021 season, the Bruins and Aces have met at least once every year since 2012.
Prior to the game, head coach Dave Jarvis will be honored for recording his 1,000th career victory on Feb. 23 with an 11-1 triumph over Middle Tennessee.
Wednesday's contest will be broadcast live on ESPN+, with Jill Jelnick providing play-by-play. Live stats will be available at BelmontBruins.com and Twitter updates will be posted to @BelmontBaseball.
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Belmont is 2-0 in midweek games this season, defeating Middle Tennessee (11-1) and Lipscomb (5-1) the past two weeks
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The Bruins saw their ten-game winning streak snapped on Saturday in a 7-6 loss to Dayton. The ten-game winning streak was the longest for Belmont since they began the 2010 season 10-0.
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At 10-3, Belmont is off to their best start since the shortened 2020 season, when they started the year 14-3 before having the rest of their games canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
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Belmont suffered their first series loss of the season this past weekend at E.S. Rose Park, defeating Dayton in Friday's matchup, 6-5, before falling on Saturday, 7-6, and on Sunday, 11-9.
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The Bruins held a 9-6 lead going into the ninth inning on Sunday, but allowed five runs in the top of the ninth and could not complete a late rally.
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Senior closer Kyle Brennan currently leads the country in saves (6). Brennan is currently 4th all-time in program history in career saves (23).
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Sophomore center fielder Guy Lipscomb is currently 2nd in the country in stolen bases (13). The native of Franklin, Tenn., has only been caught stealing once this season.
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Senior catcher Jackson Campbell has been the Bruins' best bat this year, hitting a team-high .425 with eight RBIs
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Junior left fielder Carson Shacklett has been equally as good, hitting .419 with two home runs and six RBIs
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Sophomore first baseman Brodey Heaton had his first three-hit game of the season on Sunday, going 3-for-4 with a double and a triple in the loss to Dayton
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Dominic Baratta (3-0, 2.31 ERA) is currently tied for 2nd in the country in wins (3).
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Freshman right-hander Jordan Zuger (1-0, 1.80 ERA) is the projected starter for Wednesday's game.
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Belmont's pitching staff is currently t-1st in the country in shutouts (4).
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Bruin pitchers are currently 10th in WHIP (1.01) and 18th in ERA (2.42)
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Sophomore reliever Will Jenkins is having a breakout season on the hill. In five appearances and 9.0 innings pitched, Jenkins has 16 strikeouts with no walks and has allowed only one hit with no runs.
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First-year Belmont pitching coach A.J. Gaura came to Nashville in January after spending three seasons as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Evansville
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The 2022 season marks Belmont's last campaign in the OVC. On July 1, 2022, the Bruins will officially join the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) and will be conference rivals with Evansville.
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Evansville lost two out of three games to Dayton two weekends ago. Belmont also lost two out of three games to Dayton in a series that took place at E.S. Rose Park this past weekend
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Evansville is currently 0-5 on the road this season
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Evansville was picked to finish 7th in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll. Dallas Baptist was picked to repeat as conference champion
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Shane Gray was selected Preseason All-MVC after a dominant 2021 season that saw him finish with a 2.84 ERA
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Tanner Craig is a two-time selection to the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger of the Year Award Watchlist. The senior entered this season 4th all-time in Evansville program history for career home runs (30)
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Craig has six home runs in the first nine games of the season this year
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Belmont leads the all-time series, 12-3
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Belmont and Evansville last met in 2020, with the Bruins winning on a walk-off sac fly from Drew Lowry in the eleventh inning at E.S. Rose Park
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The Bruins and Aces first met in 2010, with Belmont pulling off a three-game sweep on Opening Weekend
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With the exception of 2021, the two programs have met at least once every year since 2012
Follow Belmont baseball on social media - @BelmontBaseball on Twitter and @belmontbaseball on Instagram - for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
