VALPARAISO, Ind. - - Belmont (18-17, 6-5 MVC) and Valparaiso (11-21, 3-8 MVC) faced off in game two of their weekend series Saturday afternoon. The Beacons rallied in the ninth inning to win the game, 10-9.
Bruin Bullets
- Jeff Clarke went 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI.
- Jack Rando went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and three runs.
- Sam Slaughter went 2-for-5.
- Mason Landers went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. He extends his hit streak to 18 games.
- Blake Ciuffetelli tossed 2.2 hitless innings. He allowed one walk and struck out one batter.
- Belmont hit four home runs in the game.
The Bruins jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning.
Mason Landers drove in
Jack Rando on an RBI single down the third base line.
Jeff Clarke hit a three-run home run to right-center field. It was Clarke's first home run of the season.
Belmont added three more runs in the second. Landers hit a three-run bomb to left field. Belmont led 7-0 going into the bottom of the inning.
Valparaiso sent 10 batters to the plate in the bottom half. The Beacons scored six runs on five hits. After two innings, Belmont led 7-6.
Clarke stayed hot in the third inning with his second home run. He led off the inning with a solo home run to right field. Clarke's long ball gave Belmont a two-run lead, 8-6. Valpo responded with a solo shot from Brady Nowicki. After three innings, Belmont held on to a one-run lead, 8-7.
The Bruins scored the final run of the game in the fourth inning. Rando smashed a solo home run to left field with one out. Belmont's fourth home run of the game put them back in front by two runs, 9-7.
Blake Ciuffetelli came into the game for Belmont in the bottom of the fourth. With one out and runners on first and second, Ciuffetelli got the next two Beacons to pop out. Ciuffetelli went two more innings for the Bruins, allowed no hits, walked one batter, and struck out one Beacon.
Valparaiso's Griffin McCluskey shut down the Bruins' offense. After reliving Connor Lockwood in the fifth inning, the right-hander threw five shutout innings, allowed two hits, and struck out six Bruins.
Belmont held on to their 9-7 lead going into the bottom of the ninth.
Hank Liss went out for his third inning of work. Valparaiso rallied and scored three runs on four hits to win the game, 10-9. The Beacons walked it off on a balk from Liss.
The Bruins and Beacons are set for the rubber match tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT. Fans can follow the action on ESPN+, iHeartRadio, or with live stats.
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