Belmont University’s baseball team overcame a five-run deficit to defeat Middle Tennessee State University 8-7 on Tuesday at Reese Smith Jr. Field in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The win improves Belmont’s record to 5-8 this season.
Middle Tennessee started strong in the first inning, hitting three solo home runs and adding two more runs for an early 5-0 lead. Belmont responded in the second inning with a five-run rally. Mike Sprockett reached base on an error, JD Whitworth walked, and Jake Maddox singled to load the bases. Brady Holbrook drew a walk to bring in the Bruins’ first run. Charlie Davis added an RBI fielder’s choice, Landon Godsey hit a single that scored another run, and Cavan McMeans delivered a two-run single to tie the game at 5-5.
Middle Tennessee regained the lead with a two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning, making it 7-5. However, these would be their final runs of the game as Belmont’s bullpen limited further scoring.
In the fifth inning, Sprockett singled and Whitworth was hit by a pitch before Maddox drove in a run with another single. Pinch hitter Nicholas Stinson tied the game with an RBI single, and Holbrook gave Belmont its first lead of the day with another RBI single.
Belmont’s bullpen then held Middle Tennessee scoreless for the rest of the game. Zane Brown pitched four innings without allowing any hits or runs while striking out five batters and walking one. Jonathon Van Ness recorded two outs without giving up any runs before McKale Stevenson pitched 1.1 innings with two strikeouts. Owen Marsh kept runners stranded during his scoreless eighth inning appearance. Ridge Harvey closed out the ninth inning to secure his third save of the season.
Belmont will return home for a weekend series against Wofford College starting Friday at E.S. Rose Park.
For updates on Belmont baseball, fans can follow @BelmontBaseball on Twitter or Instagram or use Belmont’s official athletics app available through major app stores.
