EVANSVILLE, Ind. - - No. 7 Belmont (26-31) and No. 8 Missouri State (23-34) squared off in an elimination game in the MVC Baseball Championship on Wednesday afternoon. All scoring in the game occurred in the first four innings. Belmont's bullpen dominated the game's final five innings to help Belmont advance to the next round. The Bruins defeated the Bears 6-4.
Bruin Bullets
- Dominic Baratta recorded his fourth win of the season. Barratta went 5.1 innings, allowed four runs on six hits and struck out four batters.
- Will Pryor pitched a stellar 1.2 innings in his first action since Apr. 26 against Bradley. Pryor struck out three of five batters faced.
- Jett Thielke allowed no hits and struck out two batters in his scoreless inning of work.
- Bill Duby notched his third save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
- Max Blessinger drove in two runs on a triple in the fourth inning.
- Jack Rando had an RBI double.
- Landon Godsey finished the game with a team-high two hits and two runs.
- Mason Landers hit a double and scored.
- Brodey Heaton reached base twice and hit a sacrifice fly.
- There were five lead changes in the game.
Belmont scored first in the bottom of the second inning.
Mason Landers led off the inning with a double to right-center field. He advanced to third on a wild pitch and
Pete Daniel walked. During
Landon Godsey's at-bat, Landers scored on an errant throw from the catcher on a back pick to first base. Belmont led 1-0.
Missouri State took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third. Nick Rodriguez hit a two-run home run to right field.
Belmont retook the lead in the top of the third inning.
Max Blessinger was hit by a pitch to start the inning.
Jack Rando hit an RBI double to right-center field to tie the game.
Brodey Heaton hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Rando. Belmont led 3-2 at the end of the inning.
The Bears scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning. A two-out single from Cody Kelly scored a pair of runs and gave Missouri State a 4-3 lead.
Belmont went back in front on the fifth lead change of the game in the bottom half of the inning. Godsey hit a two-out double and
Jeff Clarke walked.
Max Blessinger delivered a huge triple to right-center field that scored two runs. Blessinger scored on a wild pitch. Belmont led 6-4 after the fourth inning.
Missouri State had an opportunity to climb back into the game during the seventh inning. After
Jett Thielke loaded the bases,
Will Pryor returned to the mound for the Bruins. Pryor struck out both batters he faced in the inning to preserve Belmont's 6-4 lead.
Pryor tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning.
Bill Duby came out of the bullpen for the save in the ninth. Duby made light work of the Bears with a 1-2-3 inning. Belmont won the game 6-4 and advanced to the next round of the elimination bracket in the MVC Baseball Championship.
Belmont faces No. 4 Illinois State tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. Fans can stream the game on ESPN+, listen live on iHeartRadio or follow along with live stats.
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