Belmont and #3 Vanderbilt Meet at First Horizon Park

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont (11-9) plays #3 Vanderbilt (18-3) at First Horizon Park tonight in the All 4 Lou Showdown. A portion of all ticket sales will benefit the Live Like Lou Fund for ALS Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Tickets can be purchased here.
 
The Live Like Lou Fund focuses on defeating Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The Live Like Lou Foundation and VUMC have been working together for the past three years, committing more than $3.5 million to fund ALS research.
 
Vanderbilt will serve as the home team and occupy the third base dugout. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m.
 
PROBABLE PITCHERS

Belmont - Blake Ciuffetelli (LHP / Gr.): 9 G, 9.1 IP, 6.75 ERA, 8 K, 7 BB
Last appearance (3/16 vs. Indiana): 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 K, 1 BB
 
Vanderbilt – Ethan McElvain (LHP / Fr.): 6 G, 1 GS, 9 IP, 6.00 ERA, 13 K, 7 BB
Last appearance (3/8 vs. Illinois State): 1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 K, 2 BB
Start vs. Evansville (2/28): 2 IP, 0 H, 1 K, 2 BB
 
SERIES RECAP VS. INDIANA

Belmont went 1-2 in their weekend series against Indiana. The Bruins picked up the win on Friday, March 15, by a score of 9-3. Will Pryor earned his second win of the season, and pitched five innings with three strikeouts.  

• Mason Landers went off for the Bruins against Indiana. The senior posted a .412 series batting average, with a team-high seven hits and five runs. Landers homered in all three games against the Hoosiers and totaled eight RBIs. Landers' three hits Saturday tied his career high, and the second time this season he's hit that mark. He's had three hits in seven games during his four years at Belmont.
• Brodey Heaton is up to 223 career hits, and three hits shy from becoming tenth all-time in program history for career hits. Heaton delivered his team-high sixth home run of the season on Saturday.
• Landon Godsey posted a .353 batting average. He led the Bruins with three doubles in their series against Indiana. Godsey went 2-for-4 Saturday, with a two-run home run and three runs. He set a new season-high Sunday with his 3-for-4 performance highlighted by two doubles and an RBI.
• Sam Slaughter recorded six RBIs in four games.

WHAT'S BRUIN?

• Mason Landers leads the Bruins with a .308 batting average, 24 hits, and 18 RBIs. Landers is the first Bruin since Tommy Crider in 2022 to homer in three straight games. Against Indiana, he posted a 1.231 slugging percentage and a .571 on-base percentage. Landers leads the Bruins with seven multi-hit and six multi-RBI games on the season.
• Brodey Heaton leads the Bruins with six home runs. Heaton is tied for sixth in the MVC for season home runs.
• Sam Slaughter is tenth in the MVC with five stolen bases. He's second on the team with five multi-RBI games
• Pete Daniel has reached base in ten straight games.
• Belmont's 26 runs in their series against Indiana is a new team season high. The Bruins previously scored 23 runs in their series against UAB.
• Belmont's three home runs on March 15^th and 16^th are new single-game team highs.
• The Bruins are fifth in the MVC with 22 team home runs.

SCOUTING REPORT: VANDERBILT COMMODORES

• The Commodores are on an SEC-best 13-game win streak. Vanderbilt swept Auburn to open SEC play last weekend at Hawkins Field.
• Vanderbilt totaled 46 runs on 59 hits over the four games.
• Alan Espinal was named SEC Player of the Week after going 10-for-16 with a home run, two doubles, six RBIs, five walks, and six runs scored. RJ Austin and Jayden Davis both went 9-for-18 with Austin driving in seven runs and Davis driving in six. Jonathan Vastine was 8-for-17 with a homer, triple, two doubles, seven RBIs, and five runs scored.
• Tim Corbin notched his 900^th win at Vanderbilt on Saturday, following the Commodores' 13-5 win.

MATCHUP HISTORY

• Vanderbilt leads the all-time series against Belmont with a 30-8 record.
• Belmont's last win over Vanderbilt was on March 21, 2018. The Bruins defeated the #8 Commodores 8-5.
• The Commodores have won the last four meetings.
• Vanderbilt won last year's matchup on March 14^th, 15-6. Sam Kirkpatrick finished 3-for-6 with two runs and a double. Jack Rando ended his night 2-for-5 with a home run, a double, two RBIs, and a walk. Blake Barton went 2-for-5 with a run scored.

ON DECK
Belmont will begin MVC play this weekend against UIC. Game one of the three-game series is Friday, March 22. First pitch from E.S. Rose Park is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT. Visit belmontbruins.com for all game updates and coverage links.
 
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.