Baseball Falls to Evansville in Series Opener

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont (16-14, 4-3 MVC) and Evansville (13-16, 3-4 MVC) began their three-game series Friday evening at E.S. Rose Park. Jack Rando's two-run home run was Belmont's only scoring action, as the Purple Aces won the low-scoring ballgame, 3-2.
 
Bruin Bullets

• Jack Rando hit a two-run home run in the third inning. Rando has homered in consecutive games and brings his season total to four.
• Mason Landers, Brodey Heaton, Blake Barton, and Michael Lareau recorded hits.
• Will Pryor threw five innings, allowed three runs, and struck out six batters.
• Cade Granzow tossed four shutout innings in relief with three strikeouts.

 
Evansville scored the first run of the game in the second inning. Cal McGinnis drove in Kip Fourgerousse on a single to the right side.
 
Belmont took the lead in the third inning. Michael Lareau walked with one out. Jack Rando smashed a two-run home run to left field the next at-bat. Belmont took the lead, 2-1.
 
 The Bruins' lead was short-lived, as the Purple Aces tied the game in the fourth. Brent Widder hit a solo shot to left field to make it a 2-2 ballgame. Will Pryor limited the damage as he left two runners stranded to end the inning.
 
Evansville tacked on another run in the fifth. Fourgerousse hit a two-out RBI single that brought in Harrison Taubert. The Purple Aces retook the lead, 3-2.
 
Sam Slaughter robbed Taubert of a home run in the seventh. Slaughter made a spectacular catch at the wall in right field to keep the score at 3-2 Evansville.
 
 Cade Granzow was effective out of the bullpen. He tied a season-high in relief innings with four. He struck out three batters and allowed only two hits. Granzow did everything he could to keep Belmont in the game.
 
 The Bruins tried to rally in the ninth inning. Pete Daniel led off the inning and reached base on a throwing error from Simon Scherry at short. The Bruins went 1-2-3 after that and dropped the series opener, 3-2.
 
Evansville's Shane Harris earned the save behind his four hitless innings in relief and recorded a pair of strikeouts.
 
The Bruins and Purple Aces return to action tomorrow at E.S. Rose Park. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT. Fans can tune into the game on ESPN+ or iHeartRadio.
 
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