MARTIN, Tenn -- Belmont rallied late but ultimately fell just short in a 9-8 loss to UT Martin Tuesday evening at Skyhawk Field in a some-what back and forth contest that featured multiple momentum swings and a dramatic finish.
UT-Martin struck first, capitalizing on early defensive miscues to take a 2-0 lead in the opening inning and extend it to 3-0 in the second. Belmont responded in a big way in the third, as Charlie Davis and Kyle Coleman reached to set the table for Landon Godsey, who launched a three-run home run to left field to even the game at 3-3.
The Skyhawks answered immediately, reclaiming the lead in the fourth before delivering what proved to be the most impactful stretch of the game in the fifth inning. A two-run home run followed by an RBI single pushed UT Martin's advantage to 7-3, forcing Belmont to play from behind for much of the night.
Belmont chipped away in the seventh inning, using a Davis RBI double and a Godsey sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 7-5. However, UT Martin added an insurance run in the eighth to make it 8-5 heading into the final frame.
The Bruins refused to go quietly in the ninth. Nate Webb sparked the rally with a leadoff home run, and Belmont continued to apply pressure as Davis tripled home a run and Godsey delivered again with an RBI single to tie the game at 8-8. With momentum fully on Belmont's side, the game flipped one final time in the bottom half.
UT Martin loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, and a hit-by-pitch brought in the winning run, handing Belmont a tough one-run defeat.
While Belmont's ninth-inning comeback was nearly enough to steal the game, UT Martin's three-run fifth inning proved decisive. The combination of a two-run homer and timely hitting turned a one-run game into a four-run cushion, giving the Skyhawks just enough breathing room to withstand Belmont's late surge.
Offensively, Belmont was led by Charlie Davis, who went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and multiple extra-base hits, while Landon Godsey drove in five runs, including his game-tying contributions late. Nate Webb also added a home run and scored twice.
Belmont finished with 12 hits but was hurt by three defensive errors and could not overcome UT Martin's 15-hit performance in a tightly contested game.
