NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont baseball (2-0) hosted Eastern Michigan (0-2) Saturday afternoon at E.S. Rose Park. Due to the cold temperatures, the day's original slate of a doubleheader changed into one game. Belmont pitchers
Jake Timbes and
Jett Thielke led the Bruins on the mound past the Eagles, 3-2.
Bruin Bullets
- Jake Timbes made his first collegiate start and picked up the win, as the sophomore went five innings, allowed one unearned run, and struck out four batters.
- Jett Thielke picked up the save in four innings of work, allowing one run, one walk, and recorded five strikeouts. Thielke tied a career-high for his longest save outing, which was four innings set last season against Bradley on May 18, 2023
- Brodey Heaton hit his first home run of the season in the second inning.
- Max Blessinger led the Bruins with two RBIs
- Blessinger and Sam Slaughter stole a base today.
The Eagles found their way on base in the first following an error by
Sam Kirkpatrick. Starter
Jake Timbes got help from outfielder
Blake Barton on the next hitter with a tremendous diving catch in right field for the first out. Timbes worked out of the early rough patch, and recorded the first of his four strikeouts during his outing.
Scoring began for the Bruins in the second inning.
Brodey Heaton sent the first pitch he saw over the right field fence, and gave Belmont an early 1-0 lead.
The Bruins added to the scoreboard in the following inning. After a pair of one-out walks,
Sam Kirkpatrick and
Kaden Galason advanced to second and third following a passed ball. Blessinger chopped a ball to the shortstop Cooper Vance, who couldn't get Galason out at the plate. Belmont left two runs on base, as they went up 2-0 after the third.
Eastern Michigan had a chance to score in the fourth inning, but strategic pitching from Timbes. After a stolen base from Kyle Schroedle, Timbes got the next two batters to ground out, and preserved Belmont's lead.
A Bruin error in the fifth inning led to Eastern Michigan's first run of the game. With a runner on first and two out, Galason misplayed a Logan Hugo flyball in center field, which allowed for the baserunner to score. Timbes got the next batter to fly out, as Belmont led 2-1 going into the bottom of the fifth.
Jett Thielke made light work of the Eagles after replacing Timbes in the fifth inning. He battled through adversity in the sixth, as the leadoff hitter reached on an error. He then struck out the next three batters to leave a runner in scoring position.
Belmont added an insurance run in the seventh inning. EMU went to the bullpen, which pinch hitter
Sam Slaughter took advantage of in his at-bat. After his single through the ride side, Slaughter stole second.
Max Blessinger knocked him in on an RBI single.
Eastern Michigan made it interesting in the ninth. With two outs and a runner on second, Giano Zucarro singled and drove in Cole Wilcox. Following a mound visit, Thielke got the next hitter to ground out to end the game. The four-inning save for Thielke is the longest save outing of his career.
Belmont and Eastern Michigan conclude their weekend series tomorrow, February 18th, with a doubleheader. The first pitch of Game One is scheduled for 11 a.m. from E.S. Rose Park.
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