NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - The Belmont Bruins begin their 2024 campaign this weekend against Eastern Michigan. The Bruins will host the Eagles in a four-game series at E.S. Rose Park. The first game is scheduled for Friday, February 16 at 4 p.m.
Radio broadcasts are available for all games this weekend on the Bruins Sports Network. Live stat links are also available.
Fans can watch games all season at E.S. Rose Park, with free admission.
Story Lines
- Belmont opens their 2024 season against Eastern Michigan at Rose Park on February 16.
- Belmont owns a 2-1 all-time record against the Eagles. The previous three-game series between the teams was March 5-6, 2010. After Belmont won the game on Mar. 5 15-14, the teams split a doubleheader. Belmont won Game One 7-5, and EMU won the second game 8-7.
- The seasoned Belmont squad returns 26 letter winners from 2023.
- The Bruins return all of their starting lineup, including 93.28% of their hits and 100% of their home runs. Mason Landers led the Bruins last season with 12, followed by Brodey Heaton (10) and Sam Slaughter (7).
- Belmont's pitching staff brings experience and firepower into the 2024 season, as they return 85.29% of their innings and 85.3% of their strikeouts.
- Belmont was picked to finish sixth in the MVC Preseason Poll.
- Eastern Michigan is led by first-year head coach Robbie Britt.
- EMU brings in 17 newcomers to the program, five of which are freshmen and 12 coming via the transfer portal.
Army of Arms
Even with the departure of ace
Andy Bean, the Bruins' pitching staff is setup for success in the 2024 season. Assistant head coach
A.J. Gaura and the Bruins return 85% of their innings and strikeouts from last season. Belmont saw five different pitchers make five or more starts last season:
Dominic Baratta (13),
Joe Ruzicka (13),
Jordan Zuger (11),
Jalen Borders (5), and
Will Pryor (4). The opening weekend rotation will feature
Will Pryor on Friday,
Jake Timbes in the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday, and
Jalen Borders on Sunday. The second starter for Saturday's doubleheader is yet to be decided.
Slam the Door
Belmont closer
Ethan Harden and go-to relief arm
Jett Thielke are set to carry the workload for close games for the Bruins. The duo combined for 10 of Belmont's 12 saves last season and 100 strikeouts. Harden's seven saves led the Bruins and was the third-most in the MVC last season. Thielke was third on the team in strikeouts (57) and was tied for the most wins (5).
Veteran Lineup
Belmont returns all of their starting lineup and 92% of their at-bats from last year featuring seven seniors, led by first baseman
Brodey Heaton. His power potential backed by 44 RBIs and 10 home runs last season makes him Belmont's big-swing threat in the lineup. Belmont's most productive bat last season was in the hands of
Mason Landers. The senior from Shelbyville, Tennessee led the team with a .277 batting average, 12 home runs, and 118 total bases.
Follow the Leaders
Team captains for the Bruins in 2024 are
Brodey Heaton,
Mason Landers, and
Jalen Borders. This is Heaton's second season serving as a team captain.
Welcome the Transfers
The Bruins welcome four transfers to the 2024 roster.
Michael Lareau joins the Bruins after two seasons at Wabash Valley Community College. In 2023, he posted a .338 batting average, recorded 35 RBIs, and totaled 51 runs. Lareau helped the Warriors to a 57-13 record and were runners-up in the NJCAA Division I World Series under a first-year head coach. Graduate student
Blake Ciuffetelli reunites with former high school teammate
Brodey Heaton, after spending four seasons at Southern Indiana. Last year, Ciuffetelli made 24 appearances and seven starts in the Screaming Eagles' inaugural Division I season. He set a new career-high with 48 strikeouts.
Landon Godsey joins the Bruins after two years at Volunteer State Community College, in Gallatin, Tennessee. Godsey had a spectacular 2023 campaign at the plate hitting .368 in 55 games, including 68 hits, eight home runs, and 23 extra-base hits. The junior catcher/outfielder from Indianapolis busted on the scene with 31 hits in his first 22 games last season.
Bill Duby is a graduate transfer from Western Kentucky, who joins the Bruins following a year away from baseball. Before his one season for the Hilltoppers in 2022, Duby pitched at Diablo Valley Community College for three seasons.
Fresh Faces
The Bruins add four freshmen to the roster for the 2024 season. Belmont adds a pair of position players,
Ty Allen and
Pete Daniel, and pitchers,
Zach Hernandez and
Hank Liss. Allen was a four-year varsity starter at Independence High School in Franklin, Tennessee. The two-time All-District and All-Midstate honoree recorded a .350 batting average, nine home runs, 24 doubles, and 76 RBIs in his last two years of high school ball. He was selected by the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association to represent Team Tennessee. Independence High School won both the district and regional championships twice during Allen's time, along with a state tournament appearance. Nashville native
Pete Daniel was a two-time D-IIAA All-Region selection and multi-sport athlete at Ensworth High School (played varsity basketball). Right-handed pitcher
Zach Hernandez, hailing from Fayetteville, Tennessee, attended Lincoln County High School. Hernandez earned All-District honors and helped Lincoln County secure a district championship.
Hank Liss is the only freshman joining the Bruins from outside Tennessee. A native of Evanston, Illinois, Liss racked up an impressive resume at Evanston Township High School. He earned an IHSA All-State selection, tossed three no-hitters, and helped the Wildkits win three conference and regional championships. Liss played travel ball for Top Tier North and led the pitching staff with the lowest ERA.
Home Grown
Fifteen Bruins hail from Tennessee:
Zach Hernandez (Fayetteville),
Simon Tesh (Knoxville),
Sam Kirkpatrick (Franklin),
Ty Allen (Franklin),
Sam Slaughter (Symrna),
Blake Barton (Franklin),
Ethan Harden (Greenbrier),
Jordan Zuger (Hendersonville),
Will Pryor (Whitwell),
Mason Landers (Shelbyville),
Jake Timbes (Kingsport),
Pete Daniel (Nashville),
Jack Rando (Brentwood), and
Cade Granzow (Franklin).
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
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