Bruins Suffer Heartbreaking Extra-Inning Loss to No. 1 Murray State

NORMAL, Ill. – You never know what to expect in postseason baseball. The rollercoaster of emotions, big-time plays and electric atmosphere all fuel the unmatched environment of college baseball. No. 6 Belmont (25-33) and No. 1 Murray State (36-13) gave all fans that endured the four-hour and 36-minute contest a treat Wednesday night at Duffy Bass Field.
 
Belmont held a 13-9 lead over the MVC regular-season co-champions going into the bottom of the sixth inning. The Racers chipped away in the sixth inning and eventually tied the game at 14-14 in the seventh inning. Murray State won the game 15-14 on a sacrifice fly in the 11^th inning to put Belmont on the elimination block.
 
Scoring Action

• Murray State's Luke Mistone drove in two runs on a single up the middle in the first inning. The Racers added two more runs on a Will Vierling RBI single and a Dan Tauken sacrifice fly.
• The Bruins tied the game at 4-4 in the second inning. A wild pitch with the bases loaded allowed Blake Barton to score. Pete Daniel brought in two runs on a single up the middle. Charlie Davis scored Daniel on an RBI single to right field.
• Murray State scored five runs in the bottom of the second. Jonathon Hogart hit a two-run home run to right field. A pair of doubles gave Murray State a 9-4 lead.
• Belmont's offense erupted for nine runs in the fourth inning. Landon Godsey started the scoring parade with an RBI single through the left side. Mike Sprockett delivered a three-run home run to left-center field to bring Belmont within one, 9-8. Dean Spoto laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Barton and tie the game, 9-9. Daniel gave Belmont their first lead of the game on a single to center that scored Maddox and Lareau. Davis followed with an RBI double to left-center field, followed by an RBI single from Ty Allen. The Bruins notched seven hits in the inning and took a 13-9 lead.
• Murray State cut their deficit to 13-11 on a double from Vierling that scored a pair of runs in the sixth inning.
• The Bruins got some breathing room from Sprockett's RBI double in the seventh inning. Belmont led 14-11 halfway through the seventh inning.
• Murray State's Carson Garner tied the game at 14-14 with a three-run home run in the seventh inning.
• The Racer walked off Belmont in the 11^th inning on a sacrifice fly from Hogart. Murray State

Bruin Bullets

• Pete Daniel recorded a career-high four hits. Daniel drove in four runs and recorded a double.
• Charlie Davis had a three-hit night with two RBIs.
• Mike Sprockett went 2-for-4 with a double and a three-run home run.
• Blake Barton and Michael Lareau both doubled.
• Ethan Harden tossed 3.1 innings, allowed three unearned runs and struck out five batters.

Belmont will face the loser of the game between No. 2 Missouri State and No. 5 Illinois State at 3 p.m. CT. Fans can watch the game on ESPN+ or listen to Belmont Bruins Radio with Rich Tiner. Visit belmontbruins.com for complete 2025 MVC Baseball Championship updates.
 
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