Box Score
MURRAY, Ky. -- With dominant pitching leading the way, the Belmont University baseball team secured their first conference sweep since 2020 with a 7-1 drubbing of Murray State on Sunday at Johnny Reagan Field in Murray, Ky.
Belmont (19-9, 5-1 OVC) outscored Murray State 34-13 over the course of the three-game series, taking each contest by at least six runs.
The sweep is the first for Belmont on the road and the first OVC sweep since they went on the road and won three in a row over Morehead State from March 7-8, 2020.
Jalen Borders pitched effectively for the Bruins but did not go long enough to qualify for the win, tossing 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball with three strikeouts and three walks.
Ethan Harden (W, 1-1) secured the first win of his collegiate career by tossing 2 2/3 shutout innings, recording three strikeouts while allowing just one hit and one walk.
Just as they did on Friday and Saturday, Belmont jumped ahead in the first inning, plating two runs with John Behrends singling to left field to bring in Carson Shacklett, who had reached on an error by the Racer second baseman, and Brodey Heaton doubling to left field to bring in Behrends.
The Bruins followed up the quick start with four more runs in the second inning.
Behrends ended his day 2-for-3 with two runs scored, two walks, an RBI, and a stolen base.
Leading 6-0 after the second inning, the Bruins' heavy lifting was behind them. Both bullpens pitched well, with each team only mustering one more run apiece.
Belmont's defense continued its stellar play in the field, turning two double plays and robbing the Racers of a couple of would-be hits, on groundballs that nearly sneaked through to the outfield.
Murray State threatened on a couple of occasions, including in the fourth inning, when they plated a run and looked poised to cut into the Belmont lead with one out when they loaded the bases.
However, Borders struck out the next Racer batter on just three pitches then got the third out by inducing a weak comebacker that he calmly tossed to first base.
Murray State would not score the rest of the day.
Brodey Heaton finished 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and a stolen base, and Blake Barton picked up his first career RBI and first career multi-hit game with a 2-for-4 performance.
Belmont will return to the commonwealth of Kentucky when they travel to Bowling Green on Tuesday for a midweek matchup with Western Kentucky. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. Jordan Zuger will get the ball for the Bruins.
Belmont took down WKU at E.S. Rose Park on March 15, 8-7, with a come-from-behind extra-innings walk-off walk from Drew Lowry.
The game will be streamed live on the WKU Athletics Facebook page, and live audio play-by-play will be available on the Bruin Sports Network.
