NORMAL, Ill. --Â Belmont Baseball held an early lead Friday afternoon, but a pivotal seventh inning shifted momentum as Illinois State University pulled away late for a 9-4 win over the Bruins at Duffy Bass Field.
Belmont used a four-run third inning to erase an early deficit and briefly control the opener of the weekend series. Senior infielder Landon Godsey paced the Bruins offensively, finishing 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and three RBI, while Mike Sprockett added a solo homer as Belmont accounted for all four runs in the third.
After Illinois State struck first in the opening inning on Brayden Bakes' leadoff solo home run, Belmont answered decisively in the top of the third. Nate Webb opened the frame with a single before Michael Lareau drew a walk. Following a fielder's choice, Godsey launched a three-run homer to left-center field to put Belmont in front, 3-1. Two batters later, Sprockett followed with a solo shot to left, extending the lead to 4-1.
The Redbirds quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning as Brayden Bakes delivered again, connecting on a two-run homer to trim the Belmont lead to 4-3.
Illinois State evened the game in the fourth after a Ryan Bakes double and an RBI groundout from Eric Machej tied the contest at 4-4.
Belmont starter Tate Marland worked four innings, allowing four runs on five hits while striking out three. Zane Brown entered in relief and helped keep the game even through the middle innings, holding Illinois State scoreless in both the fifth and sixth.
Belmont threatened in the sixth when Brody Langlotz walked and Brady Holbrook singled to place runners at second and third with two outs, but Illinois State escaped the inning without damage.
The game's decisive turning point came in the bottom of the seventh.
With one out, Illinois State pieced together consecutive singles before a passed ball allowed Camden Karczewski to score the go-ahead run. Moments later, Ryan Bakes drove a two-run double into right-center field, pushing the Redbird advantage to 7-4 and creating separation Belmont could not recover from.
Illinois State added insurance in the eighth when Brayden Bakes completed his three-home-run day with a two-run blast to right field.
Belmont finished with seven hits, including two from Webb and one each from Godsey, Sprockett, Maddox and Holbrook. The Bruins were held scoreless over the final six innings as Illinois State's bullpen combined for five shutout innings.
The Bruins will play Saturday at 3:00 PM in hopes to bounce back from Friday's loss.
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