Baseball Falls in Series Finale at Georgia State

ATLANTA – Opening weekend didn't go as planned for the Bruins. Belmont University (0-3) wrapped up their first series of the season at Georgia State (3-0) on Sunday afternoon. An early Belmont lead vanished in the fifth inning as the Panthers fended off the Bruins, 11-8.
 
Belmont wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Pete Daniel led off the game with a single up the middle and stole second base. With the leadoff man in scoring position, Charlie Davis lined a single to left field and scored Daniel. Belmont – with their first lead of the series – took a 1-0 lead into the bottom half of the opening frame.
 
 
One of the major storylines in the game surrounded starting pitcher Jake Timbes. The righty - who sustained a season-ending injury in his third start last season – returned to the mound. Timbes made quick work of the Panthers with two strikeouts and stranded a runner on second.
 
 
 
Timbes pitched two efficient innings for the Bruins in his first game back. The right-hander didn't allow a run and gave up only two hits in 36 pitches.
 
Georgia State tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth inning. Zane Brown – who retired the Panthers 1-2-3 in the third inning – gave up a leadoff home run to Jesse Donohoe.
 
The Panthers took the lead in the fifth inning with five runs on four hits, including a two-run home run to William Maginnis. Georgia State led 6-1 after the fifth.
 
Belmont responded in the top of the sixth thanks to Ty Allen. Davis drew a two-out walk and Landon Godsey singled in the next at-bat. Allen launched a 420-foot three-run home run to left field – the first Belmont home run of the season – to cut the deficit, 6-4.
 
 
The bottom of the sixth inning changed the course of the game. Mother Nature took all the wind that gave momentum to Belmont and blew it straight out to left field. Georgia State took advantage of the favorable hitting conditions with back-to-back home runs from Michael Maginnis and Cole Griffith. Owen Marsh came in to relieve Morris with two outs and the score at 10-4.
 
Belmont chipped away in the seventh. Blake Barton led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. Michael Lareau drove Barton home on a double to left field. Kaden Galason executed a perfect push bunt to put runners on the corners. Pinch hitter Mike Sprockett hit into a fielder's choice on the right side and beat the throw at first as Lareau crossed the plate. Belmont trailed 10-6 heading to the bottom of the seventh.
 
 
Georgia State's Cole Hynek hit the first pitch of his at-bat over the left field wall. Marsh dialed back in and recorded three strikeouts to end the inning. The Panthers lead was back to five, 11-6.
 
The other major storyline for Belmont was left-handed pitcher Ethan Harden. The redshirt sophomore – who missed all of 2024 due to injury – returned to the mound for the Bruins for the first time since May 25, 2023. Harden faced four batters and struck out one without allowing a hit. The 2022 OVC All-Freshman and 2023 All-MVC Second Team honoree held the Panthers and gave the Bruins a chance in the ninth to rally.
 
 
Lareau jumpstarted the Belmont offense in the ninth inning with a one-out single to center. Nolan Sergeant drew a walk in the next at-bat. Following a pop-out from Sprockett, Pete Daniel drove the 1-2 pitch into the right field gap to score Lareau. Davis singled to the right side and loaded the bases for Belmont. The Bruins were gifted a run on another Georgia State passed ball. Belmont had the tying run at the plate in Godsey, who struck out to end the game.
 
Georgia State won 11-8 and swept the Bruins to open the 2025 season.
 
Bruin Bullets

• Pete Daniel, Charlie Davis and Michael Lareau had two-hit games and recorded an RBI.
• Ty Allen's three-run bomb was his first career home run, the first Belmont home run of the season.
• Jake Timbes threw two shutout innings with a pair of strikeouts and allowed only one hit in his return.
• Ethan Harden tossed a scoreless eighth inning and picked up a strikeout.
• Zane Brown and Owen Marsh made their Belmont debuts on the mound.
• Lake Morris made his collegiate debut in the sixth inning.
• Tucker Smith earned his first career start at first base.

Series Notes

• Daniel, Davis and Lareau – all with five hits – were responsible for 15 of Belmont's 26 hits on the weekend.
• Lareau led the Bruins with four RBIs.
• 12 players made their Belmont debut, including six freshmen. 

Up Next
Belmont visits Tennessee Tech on Tuesday, Feb. 18. First pitch from Bush Stadium is set for 3 p.m. CT. Fans can tune in to action by listening to the Belmont Bruins Radio or follow the action on X at @belmontbaseball.

Follow Belmont baseball on social media - @BelmontBaseball on X 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.