Early Offense and Strong Bullpen Performances Carry Belmont to Victory

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont (9-15, 1-1 MVC) and Illinois State (7-13, 1-1 MVC) continued their weekend series at E.S. Rose Park Saturday afternoon. Although the Bruins trailed 4-0 in the second inning, the Bruins rattled off 10 runs in the next four innings with support from the bullpen. Belmont defeated Illinois State 11-6 and picked up their first conference win.
 
Scoring Action

• Illinois State benefited from a pair of walks to begin the second inning. Daniel Contreras brought home Judah Morris on a single through the right side. Josh Outlaw reached on a throwing error as the Redbirds scored a pair of runs. Luke Stulga drove in two more runs on a single to left field. Logan Brock – who relieved Joe Ruzicka with two outs – worked out of a bases-loaded jam. Illinois State scored four runs on two hits and an error in the inning.
• The Bruins responded in the second inning with a pair of runs. Blake Barton reached third base on a misplayed fly ball in right field. Landon Godsey drilled a triple in the next at-bat off the right field wall. Jake Maddox scored Godsey on a productive ground ball to the right side. Belmont trailed Illinois State 4-2 after two innings.  
• Belmont took their first lead of the series in the third inning. Michael Lareau drew a leadoff walk. Daniel followed with his second base hit of the game. Ty Allen launched a three-run bomb to right field. Allen's seventh home run of the season gave Belmont a 5-4 lead.
• The Bruins' bats remained hot in the fourth inning. Mike Sprockett and Gardner Lawrence set the table for a fruitful inning with singles. Michael Lareau lined a single to left field that scored Sprockett. Daniel blasted a three-run homer to right field the next at-bat. Daniel's first home run of the year extended Belmont's lead, 9-4.
• Jake Maddox added another run for Belmont in the fifth inning. Following a double by Godsey and a single by Sprockett, Maddox smoked an RBI single back up the middle. The Bruins left two runners on base – the first inning Belmont had stranded runners at the end of an inning – and extended their lead, 10-4.
• Illinois State broke up Belmont's 10-unanswered runs streak in the seventh inning. Daniel Pacella launched a one-out solo home run to right field. The Redbirds added one more on an RBI double from Graham Mastros.
• Sprockett led off the seventh inning with a solo home run to right field; his sixth of the season. Belmont carried an 11-6 lead into the eighth inning.

Bruin Bullets

• Logan Brock improved to 2-0 on the season. The freshman threw a career-high 3.1 shutout innings with two strikeouts.
• Andrew Perry went 2.1 innings and fanned three Redbirds. Perry allowed one earned run on three hits.
• Owen Marsh faced seven batters in two innings of shutout work. He struck out one batter and allowed no walk.
• Pete Daniel went 3-for-5 and hit a three-run home run; his first of the season.
• Landon Godsey hit a double and an RBI triple.
• Mike Sprockett went 3-for-5 with two runs and hit a solo home run.
• Ty Allen hit his team-high eighth home run of the season.

 
Belmont and Illinois State wrap up the weekend series tomorrow. First pitch from E.S. Rose Park is set for 10 a.m. CT. Fans can listen to the action on Belmont Bruins Radio or follow along with live stats.
 
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