NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont (7-5) welcomes Kennesaw State (6-6) to E.S. Rose Park on Wednesday, March 6, for the first meeting between the teams since 2011. The Bruins will begin a stretch of five games in seven days, following the postponement of Tuesday's game against Lipscomb. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT, at E.S. Rose Park. Fans can listen to the action on iHeartRadio, or follow along with live stats.
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Belmont:
Cade Granzow (Jr. / RHP): 2 G, 6.2 IP, 9.45 ERA, 2 K, 6 BB
Last Appearance (2/27 vs. Tenn. Tech): 3.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 K, 2 BB
KSU: Bo Rhudy (Fr. / RHP): 4 G, 2-0, 8.1 IP, 1.08 ERA, 10 K, 2 BB
Last Appearance (3/2 vs. Longwood): .2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 K
SERIES RECAP VS. LITTLE ROCK (MAR. 1-3)
- The Bruins went 1-2 against Little Rock in their weekend series. Both losses on Friday and Saturday went to extra innings. Saturday's 5-3 loss in 14 innings is tied for the second-longest game in Division I this season.
- Brodey Heaton and Mason Landers led the Bruins at the plate in the series against Little Rock. Heaton went 5-for-13, with three RBIs, two doubles, and hit the game-tying home run in the ninth inning on Saturday. He extends his hit streak to 11 games. Landers had two multi-hit games, and is now hitting .313 on the season.
- Belmont's Will Pryor and Joe Ruzicka had stellar stars for the Bruins this weekend. Pryor went a career-high seven shutout innings, with a career-high 11 strikeouts. Joe Ruzicka picked his second win of the season Sunday. Ruzicka went a career-high eight innings, allowed two runs on two hits, and recorded five punchouts. He finished the week with 10 innings pitched, six strikeouts, and now holds a 2.25 season ERA.
MATCHUP HISTORY VS. KENNESAW STATE
- Belmont is 10-14 all-time against Kennesaw State
- Belmont is 6-4 in the last ten matchups.
- The last time these teams met was May 26, 2012, in the Atlantic Sun Tournament. Belmont won the game, 10-4.
- This is the first time since May 26, 2011, the teams will play in Nashville. The game took place at Ken Dugan Field, on the campus of Lipscomb University. Belmont won the game, 4-1.
SCOUTING REPORT: KENNESAW STATE OWLS
- Kennesaw State went 2-1 last weekend in a series against Longwood. The Owls won both games of a Saturday doubleheader.
- Kennesaw State shocked #10 Clemson on February 23, with an 18-1 win in Clemson, South Carolina. It was the team's highest-ranked win since March 3, 2021, when the Owls defeated #5 Georgia. It also marked Clemson's worst home loss since 1936 (18-0 vs. Michigan State).
- The team returns 25 players from last year's squad, with 14 newcomers.
- Kennesaw State ranks second in the Atlantic Sun Conference in team ERA (4.50).
- The Owls love their small ball, as the team ranks first in the ASUN in sacrifice bunts, and are 50th in the nation.
ON DECK
Belmont will host UAB for a weekend series starting Friday, March 8. Game times 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
