Belmont Beats MT 10-3

Middle Tennessee (21-16) ended a four-game home stand on a sour note Tuesday night, falling to Belmont (16-19) 10-3.

The loss was the 10th in 13 games for Middle Tennessee and puts the team's home record at 12-7 on the year.

The Bruins jumped out to an early advantage by plating a run in the top of the second inning behind a Dan Soukup RBI single. The Bruins would strike again in the top of the fourth when Josh Brummett hit a solo homer.

The Blue Raiders finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Jason Howarth brought Marshall Nisbett in to score from third.

The Bruins regained their previous advantage in the top of the eighth when Mike Martin drove in Josh Radke.

Trailing by two, the Blue Raiders mounted a furious comeback in the bottom of the eighth. Troy Harp led off with a double and came in to score when Chuck Akers tripled to right center. Akers stood at third for two outs until Josh Archer concluded a dramatic at-bat in which he fell behind 0-2 with a solid base hit up the middle to drive the tying run across.

The Bruins put their final stamp on the game in the top of the ninth inning with a seven run outburst that was capped off by a Ryan Pettit grand slam off of Jeremy Armstrong.

The Blue Raiders could not muster another comeback in the bottom of the inning, completing Belmont's victory.

Both starting pitchers were extremely effective in the game with each man allowing only five hits. However, it was Bruin starter Mike Sawyer that had the advantage upon his exit by limiting the Blue Raiders to only one run in 6-2/3 innings.

MT starter Travis Horschel continued to pitch well, striking out seven and walking only one. But neither starter would figure into the decision.

Belmont's Chris McKee picked up the win in relief to move to 3-1 while reliever Chris Mobley took the loss to fall to 3-2.

The Blue Raiders are set to return to action this weekend with a three-game set in Mobile, Ala., against Sun Belt foe South Alabama. The series begins with a 6 PM first pitch on Friday.

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