Baseball Wins Series Against Indiana State

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Belmont Baseball earned a hard-fought Missouri Valley Conference series victory Saturday afternoon, defeating Indiana State 5-2 in the rubber match at Bob Warn Field to take the weekend series two games to one.

The Bruins used dominant pitching, disciplined at-bats, and a decisive ninth inning to secure the road win, improving to 21-34 overall and 11-13 in MVC play. Belmont collected 11 hits and drew nine walks while holding the MVCs' #1 offense, Indiana State to just six hits on the afternoon. 

Saturday's finale featured a tightly contested pitchers' duel for much of the afternoon as both teams traded scoreless frames early. Belmont broke through first in the top of the third inning when Landon Godsey doubled into the right-center gap and later stole third base before scoring on a RBI groundout from Cavan McMeans to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. 

That would be all the support Belmont starter Ridge Harvey needed early on. Harvey delivered one of his strongest outings of the season, tossing five shutout innings while allowing only two hits and striking out six. The right-hander consistently worked out of traffic and stranded multiple Indiana State runners to keep the Sycamores off the scoreboard through the first five innings. 

Indiana State threatened in the fifth after loading the bases with one out, but Harvey escaped the jam with a strikeout and fly out to preserve Belmont's lead. The Bruins' defense and bullpen continued to answer throughout the afternoon despite several tense moments. 

The Sycamores eventually tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning after capitalizing on a Belmont error and a balk. Mason Roell delivered an RBI double down the left-field line to even the score at 1-1. Belmont reliever Aubrey Moraitakis entered and immediately settled things down, recording an electric two key outs to prevent any further damage and keep the game tied heading into the eighth. 

Belmont answered immediately in the top of the eighth inning. Brody Langlotz was hit by a pitch to begin the frame before Charlie Davis lined a double down the first-base line to put runners at second and third. After Indiana State intentionally walked Brady Holbrook to load the bases, Mike Sprockett worked a lengthy at-bat before drawing a bases-loaded walk to force home the go-ahead run and give the Bruins a 2-1 advantage. 

The Bruins delivered the knockout blow one inning later.

After Michael Lareau singled and Isaac VanderWoude drew a walk, Charlie Davis stepped to the plate and crushed a three-run homer to left-center field, extending Belmont's lead to 5-1 and silencing the home crowd. The home run capped a standout afternoon for Davis, who finished 3-for-5 with a double, home run, and three RBIs. This was Davis' 10th long ball of the season.

McMeans added two hits and an RBI, while Godsey doubled and scored a run. Lareau also recorded a multi-hit performance and scored on Davis' ninth-inning blast. 

Indiana State attempted a final rally in the bottom of the ninth, scoring once on a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded, but Belmont closer Tate Marland recorded two strikeouts and induced the final out to secure the victory and series win. 

Belmont's bullpen played a major role in preserving the win. Brooks McDonnough, Moraitakis, and Marland combined for four innings of relief while limiting Indiana State to just one earned run. Moraitakis earned his first win of the season after recording five crucial outs in relief.
 

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