NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont (11-11, 0-1) opened their conference schedule Friday afternoon against UIC (14-6, 1-0). The Flames rattled off six unanswered runs in the final two innings, as they won the series opener, 8-6.
Bruin Bullets
- Mason Landers went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run. Landers' seventh home run of the season is a new team high, and extends his home run streak to five games. He's the first player in program history to homer in five consecutive games.
- Brodey Heaton knocked in a pair of runs.
- Pete Daniel went 2-for-4.
- Sam Slaughter and jack Rando each recorded an RBI.
- Will Pryor struck out four batters.
- Cade Granzow recorded three strikeouts.
Will Pryor struggled with control in the first inning. After a strikeout to the leadoff hitter, Pryor walked four straight Flames. The righty regrouped and got the next two hitters out. UIC took a 1-0 lead on no hits in the inning.
The Flames added another run in the second inning. The Flames strung together a trio of singles with one out. AJ Henkle knocked in Carson Roberts, to make it a 2-0 UIC lead.
UIC's Dillon Schueler had six strikeouts through three innings. The only allowed was a bunt single from
Blake Barton in the second inning.
Pryor worked out of a self-inflicted jam in the top of the fourth. Leadoff batter James Harries was hit in a 2-2 count. Pryor walked the next two batters to load the bases. Pryor got Jackson Bessette to pop out, and struck out Ryan Nagelbach to end the inning.
Belmont almost got on the scoreboard in the bottom half.
Landon Godsey and
Max Blessinger singled with two outs. Schueler struck out
Blake Barton to strand both runners. UIC held on to their two-run lead.
Cade Granzow replaced Pryor on the mound in the top of the fifth. The junior made quick work of UIC, with an inning-ending double play.
Belmont's offense awoke in the bottom half.
Pete Daniel singled with one out up the middle.
Sam Slaughter doubled to left center, and Daniel hustled around the bases to score Belmont's first run. Rando reached base after being hit by a pitch.
Mason Landers hit a fly ball deep enough to advance Slaughter to third. Rando's stolen base during
Brodey Heaton's at-bat made a difference, as Heaton doubled to the left-center gap. Both runners scored, and Belmont took a 3-2 lead headed into the sixth inning.
The Bruins put up another three spot in the seventh. Daniel led off with a double down the left-field line. Rando knocked Daniel in on a single to left field. Landers delivered a two-run home run to left field, which extended his home run streak to five games. Belmont led 6-2 going into the eighth.
UIC answered in the eighth. Rayth Petersen led off with a double to left center field. After a one-out walk issued to Pambos Nicoloudes,
Bill Duby replaced Granzow on the mound. James Harris drove in both runners on a triple down the right-field line. Following a two-out walk to Zane Zielinski, Henkle hit the second triple of the inning, which tied the game at 6-6.
The Flames retook the lead in the ninth inning. Nagelbach led off the inning with a solo home run to right field. Two batters later, Kendall Ewell followed with a solo home run of his own. UIC led 8-6 going into the bottom of the ninth. Belmont failed to rally, and fell 8-6 in the conference opener.
Belmont and UIC return to action tomorrow. First pitch from E.S. Rose Park is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and iHeartRadio. Game information and coverage 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
