NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Belmont battled for 13 innings Tuesday afternoon but ultimately fell to Middle Tennessee, 10-8, in a marathon contest at E.S. Rose Park that lasted 4 hours and 34 minutes, just eight minutes shy of the longest game in program history.
The Bruins (13-24, 4-5) controlled much of the early and middle portions of the game, using timely power and consistent pressure at the plate to build what appeared to be a comfortable lead.
Belmont wasted no time setting the tone in the second inning as Jake Maddox launched a solo home run to open the scoring. Just moments later, Mike Sprockett followed with a home run of his own, giving the Bruins a 2-0 advantage. The momentum carried into the third inning when Landon Godsey ripped an RBI double to extend the lead to 3-0. The Bruins continued to capitalize in the fourth inning behind Maddox's second home run of the game. Later in the frame, Charlie Davis added a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 5-0, capping a dominant stretch for Belmont offensively.
Starting pitcher Lake Morris was equally impressive early, keeping Middle Tennessee off balance through 5.2 innings of work. The right-hander allowed just one run while striking out six, limiting scoring opportunities and maintaining Belmont's control of the game.
After Middle Tennessee scratched across a run in the sixth, Belmont responded with one of its most important offensive frames of the afternoon. With the bases loaded, Godsey was hit by a pitch to bring in a run, and Brady Holbrook followed with a bases-loaded walk to plate another, extending the Bruins' lead to 7-1. Middle Tennessee began to chip away in the seventh inning, capitalizing on a two-run home run and an RBI double to cut the deficit to 7-4. Belmont answered once again in the bottom half, as Nate Webb delivered a solo home run to push the lead to 8-4 heading into the late innings.
From there, the momentum shifted dramatically.
Middle Tennessee added a run in the eighth inning to make it 8-5 before delivering the decisive rally in the ninth. The visitors strung together three runs on a series of extra-base hits and situational at-bats, tying the game at 8-8. A wild pitch during the inning allowed the tying run to score, erasing Belmont's advantage and sending the game into extra innings.
Both bullpens settled in during extras, with each side trading scoreless frames despite scattered baserunners. Belmont had limited opportunities to regain control, but Middle Tennessee's pitching staff, particularly over the final four innings which kept the Bruins off balance. The breakthrough finally came in the top of the 13th inning when Middle Tennessee's Dean O'Neill connected on a two-run home run, giving the visitors their first lead of the afternoon at 10-8.
Belmont was unable to answer in the bottom half, as the Bruins managed just one baserunner before the final out sealed the result.
Up Next
Belmont will host Evansville in an MVC weekend series on Friday April 17th with first pitch set for 4:00 PM from E.S. Rose Park.
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