NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont (12-12) and UIC (15-7, 2-1) concluded their weekend series Sunday afternoon at E.S. Rose Park. Two big innings for the Flames decided the game, as UIC won the rubber match, 7-4.
Bruin Bullets
UIC scored in the top of the first. Zane Zielinksi singled, and AJ Henkle walked in the next at-bat. Both runners moved up on a sacrifice bunt from Jackson Bessette. Ryan Nagelbach hit a ground ball to the right side, which scored Zielinski. The Flames led 1-0, after their first at-bats.
Sam Slaughter led off the game for Belmont with a double to right field. He advanced to third on a wild pitch, but was left stranded at the end of the inning.
Henkle hit a two-run home run in the third inning.
Pete Daniel led off the bottom half with a double down the right-field line.
Jack Rando laid down a one-out sacrifice bunt to move Daniel to third.
Mason Landers singled through the right side, and gave Belmont their first run of the game. UIC led 3-1 after the inning.
Belmont's
Joe Ruzicka cruised through the fourth inning going 1-2-3, with a pair of strikeouts.
Max Blessinger led off the fourth inning for Belmont with a single up the middle. He stole second during
Jeff Clarke's at-bat, to move into scoring position. Clarke drove in Blessinger on a single up the middle, and advanced to second on a throwing error. UIC prevented the Bruins from tying the game, as Clarke was thrown out on a fielder's choice at the plate. Lareau was left stranded at second base, but Belmont cut the UIC lead to 3-2.
Ruzicka worked out of a jam in the fifth inning. After hitting the leadoff batter, Ruzicka got a ground out and two strikeouts. The Flames got to Ruzicka in the sixth, as James Harris hit a two-out RBI single to right-center. UIC led 4-2.
Jordan Zuger replaced Ruzicka on the mound in the seventh. After he hit the leadoff hitter on the elbow, Zuger retired the next three batters on strikes.
In the bottom half, Daniel singled with one out. Slaughter walked on five pitches in the next at-bat. UIC went to the bullpen and brought on Dylan White to fend off the Bruins. White drilled Rando to load the bases.
Mason Landers hit a deep fly ball to left field, which brought Daniel home. The Flames intentionally walked
Brodey Heaton to set up
Landon Godsey. White struck out Godsey on three pitches to end the inning. The Bruins left the bases loaded, but cut their deficit to 4-3.
UIC responded in the eighth with a leadoff solo home run from Rayth Peterson. UIC scored two more times and led 7-3.
Slaughter, Rando, and Landers hit three straight singles to start the bottom of the ninth.
Brodey Heaton hit a ground ball to the right side, which brought Slaughter home. The Bruins failed to complete the rally, and fell to the Flames, 7-4.
Up Next
Belmont will play #11 Alabama on Tuesday, March 22. First pitch from Toyota Field in Huntsville, Alabama is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT. Tickets for the game can be purchased
here. Fans can follow along with the action on iHeartRadio or with live stats 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.
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