NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont (17-15, 5-4 MVC) and Evansville (14-17, 4-5) finished their weekend series Sunday afternoon at E.S. Rose Park. Belmont's offense erupted with 11 hits and five home runs, as the Bruins defeated Evansville 12-0 in seven innings.
Bruin Bullets
- Belmont's five home runs are a new season high.
- Jack Rando, Mason Landers, Brodey Heaton, Max Blessinger, and Michael Lareau hit home runs for the Bruins. The last time Belmont had five different players hit a home run in a game was February 19, 2023, against UT-Martin.
- Lareau led the Bruins with a season-high three hits.
- Rando finished the game with two hits, a pair of RBI, and two runs.
- Brodey Heaton knocked in two runs.
- Cade Rogers hit an RBI ground-rule double in the sixth.
- Joe Ruzicka tossed a complete game shutout. The sophomore allowed three hits, and struck out three batters, in only 87 pitches. He held the Purple Aces hitless for five innings.
Belmont jumped out to an early 2-0 lead courtesy of
Jack Rando's hot bat. Following a leadoff walk to
Sam Slaughter, Rando smashed a 400-foot home run to left-center field. His fifth home run of the season provided an early spark for Belmont's offense, and set the tone for the rest of the game.
Michael Lareau added to the Bruins' lead in the second inning. His two-out solo home run to right field made it a 3-0 ballgame.
The Bruins doubled their lead in the fourth.
Brodey Heaton led off with a walk.
Cade Rogers reached after being hit. Two batters later,
Max Blessinger sent a three-run home run over the left-field wall. Belmont led 6-0 and kept their foot on the gas.
The fun continued in the fifth inning with a pair of Belmont home runs.
Mason Landers smoked a 400-foot solo bomb to left field. It was Landers' 12
th home run of the season. Two batters later,
Brodey Heaton hit his eighth home run of the season, to extend the Bruin lead, 8-0.
Joe Ruzicka held Evansville hitless through five innings. Simon Scherry's single through the left side in the sixth put the Purple Aces in the hit column. The Bruins turned their third double play of the game, to leave a runner in scoring position and end the inning.
Lareau picked up his third hit of the day in the sixth with a leadoff double. Slaughter and Rando hit back-to-back singles. The Purple Aces intentionally walked
Blake Barton to load the bases for
Brodey Heaton. Evansville got the ground ball they wanted, but an error led to two runs crossing home. Rogers smacked an RBI ground-rule double to cap off the Belmont scoring. The Bruins led 12-0.
Ruzicka sealed the seven-inning shutout with his third strikeout of the game. Belmont picked up a much-needed Sunday win, 12-0. The win marked the first shutout of the season for the Bruins, as they improved to 17-15 on the season and 5-4 in conference.
Belmont is back in action Tuesday, March 9, against Austin Peay at E.S. Rose Park. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT.
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