Baseball Prepares for Three-Game Series Against #24 Indiana State

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont (22-22, 9-9 MVC) travels to #24 Indiana State (31-10, 14-4 MVC) for a three-game series beginning Friday evening. The Bruins went 2-1 last weekend against Bradley. The Sycamores won their series last weekend against Southern Illinois. They dropped a midweek contest on Tuesday to Illinois 21-11 in seven innings.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Friday, May 3 – 5:30 p.m. CT
Watch | Live Stats
 
Saturday, May 4 – 1 p.m. CT
Watch | Live Stats
 
Sunday, May 5 – 12 p.m. CT
Watch | Live Stats
 
PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday
Belmont: Blake Ciuffetelli (Gr. / LHP): 2-3, 19 APP, 4 GS, 6.32 ERA, 31.1 IP, 33 K, 15 BB
Indiana State: Jared Spencer (Jr. RHP): 5-0, 12 APP, 4 GS, 3.44 ERA, 34 IP, 47 K, 20 BB
 
Saturday
Belmont: Dominic Baratta (R-Sr. / LHP): 3-4, 13 APP, 8 GS, 7.10 ERA, 52 IP, 39 K, 25 BB
Indiana State: Brennyn Cutts (Jr. / RHP): 6-1, 12 APP, 11 GS, 2.41 ERA, 59.2 IP, 60 K, 25 BB
 
 
Sunday
Belmont: Joe Ruzicka (So. / RHP): 3-2, 11 GS, 4.67 ERA, 54 IP, 59 K, 38 BB
Indiana State: Luke Hayden (Jr. / RHP): 6-1, 11 GS, 2.79 ERA, 58 IP, 65 K, 31 BB
 
SERIES RECAP VS. BRADLEY (MAY 26-28)

• Mason Landers went 7-for-15 in the series against Bradley. Landers started the series with a 4-for-4 performance on Friday. The senior third. Baseman hit three home runs and drove in five runs. His 17 home runs rank second in the MVC.
• Brodey Heaton was the walk-off hero in Belmont's 6-5 ten-inning win on Sunday. Heaton's solo shot to left and fourth RBI of the series helped Belmont pick up the series win.
• Jack Rando had three doubles and scored four runs over the weekend.
• Joe Ruzicka pitched his best game of the season on Sunday. The sophomore tossed seven shutout innings and struck out a career-high nine batters. He allowed just four hits and walked one.

 
BRUIN BULLETS

• Brodey Heaton is seven RBIs away from becoming Belmont's all-time leader in career RBI. Derek Wiley ('09) holds the top spot with 212 career RBIs. Heaton's 26 RBIs in conference play are the second most on the team.
• Mason Landers' 17 home runs rank second in the MVC. Landers is tied for third for the most home runs hit in a single season. The current record is 20 set by Nate Woods in 2010.
• Landers is third in the MVC with 50 RBIs. He is batting .417 in conference games.
• Heaton is third all-time in career home runs (38) and sixth in career hits (253).
• The Bruins are tied for a league-best .980 fielding percentage.
• Belmont pitchers have held opponents to a .263 batting average: the second lowest in the conference. Joe Ruzicka ranks third in the conference with a .222 opponent batting average.
• Jordan Zuger is sixth in the MVC with 61 strikeouts.
• Heaton and Sam Slaughter have reached base safely in the last 13 games.
• Cade Granzow is 3-0 in eight appearances in conference games. His 2.53 conference ERA is the lowest among qualifying pitchers in MVC games with 23 strikeouts.
• Jack Rando has a team-high .432 batting average and 19 hits in the last 10 games. He has six doubles and nine RBIs as well.
• Belmont is in a four-way tie for fourth in the conference with Murray State, Southern Illinois and Illinois State.

 
SCOUTING REPORT: INDIANA STATE SYCAMORES

• Indiana State entered the D1baseball Top 25 ranking last week at #25. The Sycamores were ranked first in the MVC preseason poll.
• The Sycamores sit atop the conference standings with a 14-4 record.
• Indiana State carries a 16-series conference win streak into the series.
• Jared Spencer was named a Perfect Game Second Team All-American.
• Brennyn Cutts leads the MVC with a 2.41 ERA. Luke Hayden's ERA is third at the 2.79 mark.
• Hayden is second in the MVC with 65 strikeouts.
• Luis Hernandez is tied for the MVC lead with 65 hits and is third in the MVC with a .374 batting average.

 
MATCHUP HISTORY

• Indiana State leads the all-time series with a 6-0 record.
• The Sycamores swept the series in Nashville last season outscoring the Bruins 17-6.

 
Follow Belmont baseball on social media - @BelmontBaseball on Twitter and @belmontbaseball on Instagram - for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.