Men’s Basketball (26-10)
The Bruins wrapped up their season in a heartbreaking 73-68 loss to the Clemson Tigers in the third round of the NIT.
For seniors JJ Mann, Blake Jenkins and Drew Windler, the contest would be their last as the Tigers shot a season-high 10 threes. The trio leaves Belmont as the winningest senior class in the Bruins’ NCAA era with 109 victories combined. Baseball (9-18, 2-7 OVC)
3/25 @Vanderbilt
In a close contest against the Vanderbilt Commodores, Belmont dropped their ninth straight game 2-1 at Hawkins Field.
Late game heroics came in the form of an RBI single by Bryan Reynolds in the bottom of the eighth, but the close contest gave the Bruins some much-needed momentum before traveling to Morehead State.
Pitcher Christopher Carroll picked up the loss for Belmont.
3/28-3/30 @ Morehead State
After a nine-game losing streak, the Belmont baseball team picked up its first conference wins of the season with a series victory over Morehead State.
While the team dropped the first game of the series 12-2, the Bruins claimed two victories (8-6, 3-2) on Sunday to capture the series.
Game 2
After resuming the suspended game two from Saturday with Belmont ahead 1-0, doubles from Drew Ferguson and Matt Beaty extended the Bruins lead 5-0 in the second inning.
In the bottom of the third, Morehead State got two on the board in the third to cut the lead 5-2.
Another double from Ferguson brought across Brennan Washington, who reached base on a leadoff single and subsequent steal, to give the Bruins a 6-2 lead in the fourth.
RBIs from Drake Byrd and Matthew Kinney added two more runs in the fifth. While a three-run homer from Morehead cut the lead 8-5, the Bruins would go on to win 8-6 and snap its losing streak.
James Buckelew picked up the win as the left-hander went five innings and struck out four. Greg Brody earned his fourth save of the season.
Game 3
The Bruins captured their first conference series victory with the 3-2 win in the series finale.
RBI doubles from Alec Diamond and Jamie Ritchie helped Belmont out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning.
Morehead State cut the lead down to two behind an RBI single from Robby Spencer in the bottom of the fifth. While the Eagles had chances to score the game tying run in the ninth, the Bruins defense came up with the double play to end the game and claim the series.
Austin Coley earned the victory on the mound and allowed two hits and struck out four in 4.1 innings of work. Scott Moses received his first save of the season.
Softball
3/26 v. Evansville (8-0 in 5 innings)
3/29-3/30 v. TN Tech
In a Saturday afternoon showdown against Tennessee Tech, freshman Chelsea Deloney knocked out a two-run homer to push the Belmont softball team over the Golden Eagles, 4-3.
After TTU went up early 2-0 in the first inning, a single from Kat Hollingsworth brought in a pair of runs to even the score.
Belmont took the lead in the fourth inning behind Deloney, who hit her first collegiate homer. This would prove to be the game winner as the Bruins pitching and defense forced three up and three down to end the game.
Taylor Moon earned the win in the circle for Belmont as the sophomore pitched a complete game and struck out four. Six different Bruins recorded hits on the day.
Doubleheader Sunday:
After losing the first game of the day 6-3, the softball team claimed the second game to split the doubleheader and win the series against Tennessee Tech on Sunday.
TTU once again took an early lead as the Golden Eagles scored two runs in the top of the first inning. The Bruins would tie the game behind a double from Hollingsworth and triple from Jordan Daly.
In the bottom of the third inning, Belmont went on an impressive offensive streak as the Bruins brought in six runs on five hits. The Bruins added two more runs behind two-RBI double from Taylor Moon in the fourth.
Belmont would go on to claim the series finale 10-2. Moon earned the win as the sophomore went four innings and allowed only two runs off five hits. Kirby Ferrell led the offensive attack for Belmont and went perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI.
Women’s Golf
3/24-3/25 @ TSU Big Blue Invitational
At the TSU Big Blue Intercollegiate on Monday, the Belmont women’s golf team captured second place with a team score of 320. The Bruins finished just four strokes behind tournament champion Lipscomb.
All five BU players in the team event finished tied for seventh as each shot 80 for eight-over par. Freshman Alexi Bevans tied for 13th in the individual event and carded an 82.
The golf team will return to action on April 9 in a dual match against rival Lipscomb.
Men’s Tennis
3/29 v. Morehead State
3/30 v. Eastern Kentucky
The men’s tennis team extended its win streak to five as they defeated Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky over the weekend. The Bruins captured both matches by a score of 4-3.
In the single matches against MSU, Mauricio Antun, Marko Lovrinovic and Cedric Dujacquier each picked up victories. With the match tied at 3-3, the Bruins claimed the doubles point to win the match behind wins from Antun and Lovrinovic and Dujacquier and Henrik Claesson.
The duos once again were victorious the following day against EKU as they helped Belmont get off to an early 1-0 lead in the match. While the Colonels won the last three single matches, wins at the first three positions from Antun, Lovrinovic and Dujacquier clinched the match for the Bruins.
The team returns to the court on Saturday to host Tennessee Tech.
Women’s Tennis
3/29 v. Morehead State
3/30 v. Eastern Kentucky
In a pair of OVC matchups against Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky, the women’s tennis team was unable to come up with a victory as they fell 4-3 and 7-0 respectively.
On Saturday against the Eagles, Belmont was able to take an early 2-1 lead in the single matches led by Kendal Warren and Laura Van Eeckhoudt, who each picked up a win. Abbie Mather added another win for the Bruins but the Eagles forced the game into doubles.
Morehead State would clinch two of the three matches to win the doubles point and claim the match 4-3.
On the following day against Eastern Kentucky, the Bruins couldn’t bounce back and were swept by the Colonels 7-0. The team returns to the court on Wednesday against UT-Martin.