Box Score VALPARAISO, Ind. -- Belmont baseball delivered a clean, efficient performance on Saturday afternoon, shutting out Valparaiso 2-0 at Emory G. Bauer Field to even the series.
The Bruins (16-27, 7-7 MVC) leaned on dominant pitching and timely hitting, breaking a scoreless tie in the sixth inning and never looking back. Belmont scattered seven hits on the day, with Jake Maddox leading the way offensively, going 2-for-4 with a double and driving in both runs.
The turning point came in the top of the sixth. After five innings of deadlock, Belmont capitalized on defensive miscues by Valparaiso. With runners in scoring position, Maddox delivered a clutch two-RBI double, plating Brady Holbrook and Mike Sprockett to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead. Those would be the only runs needed.
On the mound, Belmont was in complete control. After a brief start from Ridge Harvey, who left at the start of the second inning due to injury. Zane Brown took over and was dominant across eight innings of relief. Brown allowed just two hits, struck out six, and surrendered only one walk while keeping Valparaiso off the scoreboard. He worked efficiently, needing just 93 pitches to secure the win and shut down any momentum from the Beacons.
Defensively, Belmont was sharp, committing no errors and limiting Valparaiso to just three hits and four runners left on base. The Beacons (9-29, 2-12 MVC) struggled to generate offense throughout, never advancing a runner past second base.
Despite a strong complete-game effort from Valparaiso's Connor Lockwood, who allowed just two unearned runs, Belmont's ability to capitalize in a key moment proved decisive.
With the win, the Bruins move back to .500 in conference play.
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