Baseball Defeated by UIC in Chicago on Saturday Afternoon

CHICAGO – Despite dominant work from the Bruin bullpen, the Belmont University baseball team fell, 4-3, on Saturday afternoon to UIC at Curtis Granderson Stadium in Chicago.
 
Jett Thielke delivered six scoreless innings out of the bullpen for Belmont (21-26, 6-14 MVC) while scattering just three hits. The junior struck out seven while issuing no walks in his longest outing as a Bruin, keeping Belmont in the game and giving them chances down the stretch.
 
UIC (21-21, 8-12 MVC) scored two runs in the first inning and two runs in the second inning to force the exit of Dominic Baratta (L, 3-5) leading to Thielke's entry.
 
Belmont put a runner on base in each of the first eight innings of the game, but struggled to capitalize at the plate, stranding nine men on base.
 
Brodey Heaton led the way offensively, finishing 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored.
 
Max Blessinger ended the day 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
 
With UIC leading 4-0 after the first two innings, Belmont responded with three singles from Sam Kirkpatrick, Mason Landers, and Heaton, with Heaton's knock driving in Kirkpatrick to get on the board.
 
After Sam Slaughter drew a walk to load the bases with one out, Blessinger picked up the first of his two RBIs with a sacrifice fly that drove in Landers from third base and brought the score to 4-2.
 
In the fifth inning, Heaton doubled to left field before Blessinger stepped in with two outs and flared a single to shallow right field, allowing Heaton to score and bring the Bruins within a run.
 
In the seventh, a Heaton walk and a Slaughter single put men at first and third with one out, and the tying run ninety feet away.
 
However, the Bruins were unable to bring Heaton in, with consecutive groundouts ending the threat.
 
Belmont finished the game with eight hits and 14 baserunners overall.
 
Up Next
 
Belmont closes out their road series against UIC on Sunday afternoon from Curtis Granderson Stadium.
 
First pitch is scheduled for noon.
 
The game will be streamed on ESPN+, with live audio play-by-play broadcast on Belmont Bruins Radio 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.