Baseball Wins Seventh Straight With 6-3 Triumph Over Illinois State

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Stellar pitching from the bullpen and Jeff Clarke's three RBIs helped the Belmont University baseball team pick up their seventh straight victory with a 6-3 win over Illinois State on Saturday at E.S. Rose Park. 

With the seven consecutive wins, Belmont (14-11, 2-0 MVC) has their longest winning streak since they won ten in a row across February and March of last season. 

The win also secures the first Missouri Valley Conference series victory in program history ahead of Sunday's series finale. 

With the Bruins trailing, 3-2, in the fifth inning, Jeff Clarke ambushed the first pitch he saw to left field for a two-RBI single to give Belmont the lead for good. 

Clarke's hit came immediately after Sam Kirkpatrick appeared to tie the game with an RBI single before being ruled out due to an illegal bat. After the turnaround in momentum to the Redbirds side, Clarke's big hit gave Belmont the juice right back and helped the Bruins hold on for the win. 

Will Pryor (W, 3-0) earned the win in relief, twirling 3 1/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts and no walks.  

Ethan Harden (SV, 4) picked up his fourth save of the season by retiring six in a row to end the game with a pair of strikeouts. 

Jordan Zuger started off with a bang on the mound, tossing three perfect innings before running into trouble in the fourth inning. 

Belmont took the first lead of the game in the second inning, when Brodey Heaton doubled to center field, advanced to third base on a flyout, then scored on a Drew Lowry single through the left side. 

Illinois State plated three runs in the fourth, including two on a home run to right field with the wind blowing out, to take a 3-1 lead. 

Belmont cut closer with an RBI double from Jack Rando to right center field, bringing the score to 3-2, before Kirkpatrick looked to have tied the game with his hit. Clarke made sure Belmont got the lead regardless, delivering his single to left field to put Belmont in front, 4-3. 

The Bruins added another run in the sixth and one more in the seventh on another Clarke RBI base hit. 

Brodey Heaton finished 2-for-4 with a double, Drew Lowry finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Jeff Clarke went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. 

??? Hear from @clarkejeff13 on Saturday's win, his approach at the plate with runners on, why the team is hot, and the Bruins' mindset going into Sunday ??#ItsBruinTime pic.twitter.com/SAzur4UbIm
— Belmont Baseball (@BelmontBaseball) March 25, 2023
 

Up Next 

Belmont will go for a series sweep of Illinois State when they return to E.S. Rose Park on Sunday afternoon. 

First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. 

The game will be streamed on ESPN+, with live audio play-by-play simulcast on iHeartRadio and live stats available on BelmontBruins.com. 

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.                 

#ItsBruinTime