MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Belmont baseball erased an early five-run deficit and leaned on a dominant bullpen performance to defeat the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders baseball 8-7 Tuesday afternoon at Reese Smith Jr. Field. The victory moves Belmont to 5-8 overall.
Bruins Respond After Early Deficit
The Blue Raiders jumped out to a fast start in the bottom of the first inning, launching three solo home runs and adding two more runs to take a 5-0 lead before Belmont could settle in.
Belmont quickly answered in the second inning with a five-run rally that tied the game. After Mike Sprockett reached on an error and JD Whitworth worked a walk, Jake Maddox singled to load the bases. Brady Holbrook drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the Bruins' first run of the game. Charlie Davis followed with an RBI fielder's choice before Landon Godsey lined a run-scoring single to center. Moments later, Cavan McMeans delivered the big swing of the inning, driving a two-run single to right field that evened the score at 5-5.
The Blue Raiders responded in the bottom half of the second with a two-run home run to regain a 7-5 lead. However, that would be the last time Middle Tennessee scored as the Belmont pitching staff locked in for the remainder of the game.
Belmont took control in the top of the fifth inning. Sprockett sparked the rally with a single, and Whitworth was hit by a pitch to put two runners aboard. Maddox came through with an RBI single to cut the deficit to one. Pinch hitter Nicholas Stinson followed with a clutch run-scoring single to tie the game at 7-7. Brady Holbrook then delivered the decisive hit of the game, lining an RBI single to right field to score Maddox and give the Bruins their first lead of the afternoon at 8-7.Â
After the early offensive fireworks, Belmont's bullpen took over. Right-hander Zane Brown earned the win with an outstanding relief outing, tossing four scoreless innings, allowing no hits while striking out five and walking one. His effort stabilized the game and allowed the Bruins to maintain their lead. Jonathon Van Ness followed with two outs of scoreless relief before McKale Stevenson added 1.1 innings with two strikeouts to keep the Blue Raiders off the board. Owen Marsh worked a scoreless eighth inning, stranding runners and preserving the one-run lead. Closer Ridge Harvey entered in the ninth and retired the side to secure the victory and record his third save of the season.
Up Next
The Bruins are back at home for a weekend series against the Wofford Terriers beginning on Friday at 4:00 pm from E.S. Rose Park.Â
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