NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In a closely contested matchup at home, the Belmont Bruins (2-4) fell 6-4 to Central Michigan (4-2) on Saturday afternoon. Despite a strong mid-game push and a ninth-inning rally, the Bruins were unable to overcome the Chippewas' late-inning execution.
The Chippewas struck first in the opening frame, but Belmont responded emphatically in the bottom of the second. After JD Whitworth singled and stole second, Mike Sprockett drove him in with an RBI single to center. The Bruins then surged ahead 3-1 thanks to a clutch two-out, two-RBI double fromLandon Godsey.
Central Michigan clawed back, tying the game in the fourth on a two-run home run and reclaiming a narrow 4-3 lead in the fifth. Belmont's pitching staff, led by Lake Morris and McKale Stevenson, kept the game within reach, but two costly errors in the eighth allowed the Chippewas to extend their cushion to 6-3.
The Bruins didn't go quietly in the bottom of the ninth. After Isaac VanderWoude walked and stole second, Cavan McMeans delivered a two-out RBI double to left field to cut the deficit to two. However, the comeback fell just short as Central Michigan's Stumpf secured the save with a final strikeout.
Key Belmont Performers
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L. Godsey (3B): Finished 1-for-4 with a double and 2 RBIs.
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C. McMeans (SS): Went 1-for-5 with an RBI double in the ninth.
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M. Sprockett (C): Contributed an RBI single and a stolen base.
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B. Langlotz (RF): Led the team with 3 hits and added a stolen base.
Up Next
Belmont heads down Belmont blvd. for a midweek edition of the "Battle of the Boulevard." The Bruins will travel across town to face rival Lipscomb University on Tuesday, Feb. 24. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM at Ken Dugan Field.
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