BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - - Belmont (11-7) and Indiana (9-9) began their three-game series at Bart Kaufman Field Friday afternoon. Belmont's three home runs and timely hitting led the Bruins to their second win over a Power Five team, 9-3.
Bruin Bullets
- Belmont's three home runs are the most in a game this season.
- Brodey Heaton hit his sixth home run of the season.
- Max Blessinger went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a season-high three RBIs.
- Mason Landers went 2-for-4 and hit a three-run homer in the first inning. It was his third home run of the season.
- Will Pryor improved to 2-1 on the season.
Belmont jumped out to an early three-run lead in the first inning.
Mason Landers stepped into the box with two outs and two runners on base, and launched a three-run home run to left-center field.
Indiana responded with a run in the bottom of the inning. Following a leadoff triple for Nick Mitchell, Devin Taylor hit a sacrifice fly to left field. After the first, Belmont lead 3-1.
The Bruins got back the run in the second, courtesy of the long ball.
Max Blessinger hit a solo home run with two outs to right field. Blessinger's first home run of the season pushed Belmont back out to a three-run lead.
Indiana struggled to score throughout the game. The Hoosiers stranded 10 runners on base, and failed to tie the game in the fourth. The Hoosiers had bases loaded with one out. Pinch hitter Joey Brenczewski hit a sacrifice fly to left field, which scored Josh Pyne from third. After another walk from Pryor, the Belmont starter got Taylor to fly out to
Pete Daniel at shortstop. After the inning, the Bruins led 4-2.
Hank Liss worked out of a jam in the sixth inning. The Hoosiers stranded two runs in scoring position.
The Hoosiers answered with another sacrifice fly from Pyne in the seventh. Heading into the eighth inning, Belmont led 4-3.
Belmont added insurance in the eighth inning courtesy of
Brodey Heaton.
Jack Rando reached first on a walk with one out. After a flyout from
Landon Godsey, Heaton blasted a two-run bomb to left-center field. Belmont led 6-3.
Indiana's Ty Bothwell made it difficult for the Bruins' offense to click. Heaton's home run was only the third hit allowed by the lefty, since he replaced Jack Moffitt in the third. Bothwell showed fatigue in the ninth, and Belmont took advantage. Following two walks to
Max Jones and Daniel,
Michael Lareau dropped a bunt down the third-base side. Bothwell broke down and failed to get an out, which loaded the bases with no outs. The Hoosiers called upon Julian Tonghini to keep Indiana within striking distance. Blessinger stepped up and singled through the left side of the infield.
Ty Allen and Daniel scored on Blessinger's second hit of the game. Rando hit a ground ball to the shortstop with one out, which scored Lareau two batters later.
Jordan Zuger came on for the Bruins in the ninth and went 1-2-3, with a strikeout to end the game. Belmont won the game, 9-3.
The Bruins and Hoosiers return to action tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT. Coverage of the game can be found at
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.
#ItsBruinTime
