Baseball Falls on Saturday at Home to Kansas, 5-0

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Limited to four hits, the Belmont University baseball team fell to Kansas, 5-0, on Saturday afternoon at E.S. Rose Park. 

The defeat sets up a rubber match on Sunday at 11 a.m. from E.S. Rose Park with the winner taking the series. 

Belmont (4-7) could not get much going offensively against right-hander Sam Ireland (W, 2-1) who tossed a complete game shutout for the Jayhawks. 

The Bruins tallied a single in the third, a single in the fifth, a double in the eighth, and a single in the ninth, but could not find a way to cross home plate. 

The decisive moment in the game came in the fifth inning, with the game tied, 0-0.  

After Jordan Zuger (L, 1-2) struck out the first batter of the frame, three straight singles drove in a Kansas run to make it 1-0 in favor of the Jayhawks. 

Belmont made a move to the bullpen, bringing in Will Pryor, who was ambushed by Kansas shortstop Collier Cranford, who hit a three-run homer to left field to break the game open at 4-0 in the fifth. 

Zuger battled through the first four frames, working himself out of jams again and again. In each of the first four innings, Kansas put runners in scoring position but was held in check by the sophomore right-hander, who benefitted from a double play turned behind him in the second inning and back-to-back strikeouts with a runner at third base in the third inning. 

Zuger finished with five strikeouts and two walks, scattering eight hits. 

Pryor went 3 2/3 innings, his longest career outing, allowing two earned runs with two strikeouts. 

Simon Tesh tossed a scoreless ninth inning out of the Belmont bullpen. 

Jeff Clarke finished 1-for-2 at the plate for the Bruins with a double and a walk. 

Up Next 

Belmont will get ready for Sunday's showdown with Kansas in a rubber match that will decide the series. 

First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. from E.S. Rose Park. 

Belmont has not won a series at home against a Power Five opponent since 2001, when they took two of three games from Iowa. 

Left-hander Dominic Baratta will get the start on the mound for the Bruins. 

Live radio play-by-play will be broadcast on the Bruin Sports Network, and live stats will be 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.                       

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