Bruins Tame Lions for First Road Win

FLORENCE, Ala. - - Belmont University (4-1) traveled to North Alabama (1-3) Tuesday afternoon, for their first road game of the season. The Bruins took care of business, as starter Joe Ruzicka and late scoring led Belmont to victory, 6-2.
 
Bruin Bullets

• Sophomore Joe Ruzicka picked up the win in his first start of the season. He threw six innings, recorded four strikeouts, with only one earned run.
• Mason Landers and Max Jones both went 3-for-5. Landers scored in the third inning and picked up three RBIs. Jones set a new Belmont career high with his three-hit performance at the plate. Both players hold a three-game hit streak.
• Kaden Galason hit a two-run homer in the seventh; his first of the season.
• Pete Daniel scored two runs.
• Relievers Jordan Zuger and Hank Liss blanked the Lions in the eighth and ninth innings.
• Belmont's pitching staff stranded 12 Lions on base.
• Catcher Landon Godsey threw out two baserunners; the second time he has done this season.
• Belmont extends their series win streak over North Alabama to five games.

Starter Joe Ruzicka pitched a great game for the Bruins following their four-game series against Eastern Michigan. The sophomore remained calm, cool, and collected early when North Alabama put runners on in the first inning. After a quick first out, a single and error led to runners on first and second for the Lions. Ruzicka got the next two hitters to pop out to Pete Daniel at shortstop to end the inning.
 
Catcher Landon Godsey helped his pitcher out in the second, as he caught Andrew Knight stuck in no man's land at first.
 
Pete Daniel jump-started the third inning with a one-out double. Daniel scored two batters later on an RBI single from Mason Landers. Max Jones followed with his first hit of the game, as runners stood on the corner with two out.
 
 A wild pitch from Caleb Menina that kicked towards the Lions' dugout allowed Landers to score. Belmont stranded Jones at second but took a 2-0 lead.
 
 North Alabama didn't learn their lesson about testing Godsey's arm. With one out, Jonathan Lane tried to steal second. Godsey delivered a throw on the money, as Jack Rando applied the quick tag for the second out.
 
 The Lions scored their first run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Leadoff batter Alex Wilson doubled, then advanced to third on a wild pitch two batters later. Wilson scored on a fielding error by Pete Daniel, as the Lions cut the Bruins' lead to 2-1.
 
Ruzicka started the sixth inning off with his fourth strikeout of the game. Kaden Galason made an impressive diving catch in center field to help his pitcher. Ruzicka got Dominick McIntyre to ground out to complete the 1-2-3 inning.
 
 Belmont returned to scoring fashion in the seventh inning. After leadoff hitter Pete Daniel walked, Landon Godsey singled, as both runners advanced an extra bag on the throw from the outfield. The Lions went to the bullpen before Landers's at-bat. North Alabama's plan failed, as Landers drove both runners in. Belmont didn't score again, but increased their lead to 4-1.
 
 Baseball karma favored Galason in the eighth inning. Ty Allen singled with one out, and later stole second. Galason launched the next pitch over the left field fence, and expanded the Belmont lead to 6-1.
 
 North Alabama had a chance to climb back in the home half. After the first two batters reached base, Jackson Ferrigno drove in one run. Dominic Baratta walked the next batter to load the bases. The Bruins called upon Jordan Zuger from the bullpen to prevent further damage. The reliever did an exceptional job stepping into a bases-loaded situation with no outs. He made quick work of the next three Lions' hitters, which included a strikeout. Godsey caught a foul ball near the backstop netting that took any moment away from North Alabama.
 
 Hank Liss ended the game in the ninth inning. He faced four batters and allowed one hit. The Bruins won their first road game of the season by a final score of 6-2.
 
Up Next
 
Belmont travels to Columbia, South Carolina for a weekend series against #21 South Carolina. First pitch on Friday, February 23 is scheduled for 3 p.m. central time. Fans can find first-pitch times and game information at belmontbruins.com.
 
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