NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont (9-6) and UAB (6-8) squared off in game two of their weekend series Saturday afternoon. Despite the cold temperatures and winds, the Bruins stayed hot at the plate. Belmont's explosive first inning carried the team to an 11-3 win.
Bruin Bullets
- Jack Rando had his second multi-hit and RBI performance of the series. His season-high 3 RBIs bring his series total to five.
- Dominic Baratta picked up his first win of the season. He tossed six innings and allowed three runs, one earned, with three strikeouts.
- Sam Slaughter had his second two-RBI game of the series and stole two bases. He also had two hits in the first inning.
- Jordan Zuger threw two scoreless relief innings with a pair of strikeouts.
- All nine Belmont starters reached base in the first inning.
- Belmont tied a season-high 11 runs set on February 24, against #21 South Carolina.
- The Bruins' four stolen bases tied a team season high.
UAB scored in the first inning. With runners on first and second,
Dominic Baratta attempted to pick off Gavin Lewis Jr. at second. The throw went into the outfield, and moved both runners up a bag. An error from
Mason Landers scored both runs, as the Blazers led 2-0, after the first half inning.
Belmont responded in a big way in their first plate appearances. Slaughter singled and later stole second base. Landers walked, which put the tying run aboard.
Brodey Heaton knocked in Slaughter on an RBI single to center.
Max Jones walked the next at-bat.
Jack Rando gave Belmont the lead on a ball to right field. Both Landers and Heaton scored easily on the play. Belmont led 3-2, but showed no signs of slowing down with only one out.
Pete Daniel knocked in a run after, to make it 4-2 Bruins. Belmont tacked on three more runs in the inning.
Sam Slaughter recorded his second single of the inning, which brought home a pair of runs. After one inning, Belmont led 7-2.
The Bruins scratched across another run in the second. Rando doubled to the right-field corner. Heaton flew around the bases, and scored from first base. Belmont led 8-2 after the second.
UAB's Reed Latimar hit a solo home run in the third, to make it 8-3 Belmont. The Blazers never scored again, as they watched the Bruins distance themselves the rest of the game. Following the home run, Baratta tossed three consecutive 1-2-3 innings, until he exited the game.
Belmont continued to add insurance runs in the fifth inning. Slaughter and Lareau stood at first and second with one out. The Bruins pulled off the double steal, which made a difference in the inning's ending. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, and scored Lareau from third.
Landon Godsey hit a ground ball to the right side that brought Slaughter home. The Bruins led 10-3 after the fifth.
The Bruins scored their final run the sixth. Jones singled with one out, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. An error from Lewis Jr. at shortstop put runners on the corners, with only one out. Rando stole second base, drew a throw from the catcher that went wide, and allowed Jones to score from third.
Jordan Zuger relieved Baratta to start the seventh inning. He picked up a strikeout and left one runner stranded, in his first inning on the bump. After letting up a single to the first batter he faced, the Blazers never touched the bases again with Zuger on the rubber.
Zach Hernandez ended the game for the Bruins on the mound. The freshman's two early walks never scored in the ninth, as Belmont clinched the series win, 11-3.
Belmont and UAB close out their weekend series tomorrow at E.S. Rose Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.
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