Box Score
MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Despite two two-run home runs from John Behrends and Tommy Crider, the Belmont Baseball team dropped their series opener at Morehead State on Thursday, falling 12-7 at Allen Field in Morehead, Ky.
Belmont (21-13, 7-3 OVC) cut it to a 7-4 game on the mammoth home run from Behrends in the top of the fifth inning, but could not get any closer.
The 12 runs allowed on Thursday were the third-most allowed by the Bruins this season, and the 14 hits given up were tied for the most by a Belmont opponent.
Belmont fell behind early, with Morehead State tagging Bruin starter Joshua South for seven earned runs in four innings before getting to Belmont's bullpen in the top of the fifth inning.
After the Eagles plated five runs in the bottom of the fourth to go up 7-0, the Bruins responded in a big way with three straight hits to begin the fifth inning, with Jack Capobianco and Jackson Campbell both singling before Grayson Taylor doubled to straightaway center field to drive in two runs.
Later, Behrends homered to right field to bring home Taylor and cut it to a 7-4 game.
However, Morehead State rebounded with four runs in the fifth off a Bruin reliever and led 11-4 midway through the contest.
Tommy Crider drilled a two-run home run to left field in the top of the sixth inning to make it 11-6, and Behrends added a sacrifice fly in the eighth to give Belmont their seventh run, but the deficit was too large to overcome.
Behrends ended his night 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs. Taylor finished the game 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
Dusty Baird threw two strong innings in relief, allowing one run with two strikeouts, and Caleb Guisewite pitched a scoreless ninth frame.
Belmont returns to Allen Field on Friday for Game 2 of the series, with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. ET.
Belmont LHP Andy Bean (5-1, 3.92 ERA) will face Morehead State RHP Alex Kafka (1-2, 5.80 ERA). While there will not be a video stream of Friday's action, the Bruin Sports Network will carry live audio play-by-play via Twitter.
