Baseball Sweeps Murray State in Doubleheader

MURRAY, Ky -- Belmont baseball used an explosive offensive day and strong pitching performances to sweep a doubleheader over Murray State Racers Friday at Johnny Reagan Field, winning Game 1, 12-1, before taking Game 2, 9-5.

The Bruins combined for 25 runs and 26 hits across the two games, collecting seven home runs while improving conference momentum with a pair of road victories.

Game 1: Belmont 12, Murray State 1

Belmont wasted no time taking control in the opener, launching two first-inning home runs to immediately seize momentum. Landon Godsey opened the scoring with a solo shot to left before Cavan McMeans followed later in the inning with another solo homer, giving Belmont an early 2-0 advantage.

The Bruins continued to pressure Murray State starter Jacob Hustedde throughout the afternoon. Charlie Davis drove in a run in the second inning, and Belmont added two more in the third as Godsey homered again and Brady Holbrook scored on a Murray State throwing error.

Belmont's biggest offensive stretch came in the fourth inning when the Bruins plated four runs. Charlie Davis delivered an RBI bunt single before McMeans ripped a two-run double to left field. A wild pitch later allowed Holbrook to score, stretching the lead to 9-0.

McMeans finished with one of his strongest offensive performances of the season, going 3-for-4 with five RBIs, including a two-run homer in the sixth inning that capped Belmont's scoring. Godsey added two home runs and two RBIs, while Davis collected three hits and two RBIs.

On the mound, McKale Stevenson delivered a complete-game effort, throwing seven innings while allowing just four hits and one run with eight strikeouts.

The turning point came in the fourth inning when Belmont broke the game open with four runs after already leading 5-0. McMeans' two-run double and the additional run scored on a wild pitch pushed the margin to nine runs and removed any chance of a Murray State comeback.

Game 2: Belmont 9, Murray State 5

Belmont carried its offensive momentum into the second game when lead off Charlie Davis homered in the first inning to give the Bruins another early lead. The Bruins added three more runs in the second when Landon Godsey crushed a three-run homer to left, scoring Nicholas Stinson and Isaac VanderWoude for a 4-0 advantage.

Murray State answered quickly in the third inning with four runs, highlighted by a two-run home run from Kris Hokenson that tied the game at 4-4.

Belmont regained control in the sixth inning when Isaac VanderWoude delivered a two-run home run to left field, scoring JD Whitworth and restoring a two-run lead.

Jake Maddox added an RBI single in the seventh inning, while Belmont created separation in the ninth. Cavan McMeans tripled home a run before Mike Sprockett grounded out to bring in another insurance run.

Cavan McMeans again led the offense, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and a triple. Davis added three hits, while Godsey reached base four times and drove in three runs.

After Ridge Harvey allowed four runs over four innings, Krish Gandhi stabilized the game out of the bullpen, throwing 3.2 innings and earning his first win of the season. Brooks McDonnough closed the final four outs.

The turning point came in the sixth inning when VanderWoude's two-run homer immediately answered Murray State's comeback and gave Belmont a 6-4 lead after the Racers had erased the early four-run deficit.

Up Next

Bruins will travel to Bowling Green, Ky. for a mid week competition on Tuesday afternoon at Western Kentucky. First pitch is set for 6:00 PM at Nick Denes Field.

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