NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont rallied from a 5-4 deficit with four runs in the fourth and went on to a 15-6 win over Vanderbilt Wednesday night at Greer Stadium.
The Commodores (17-11) lost to the Bruins (15-12) for the first time in seven games dating back to the 2003 season.
Belmont jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first as the Bruins got to Reid early. Derek Wiley and Matt Zeblo recorded RBI doubles while Daniel Wagner added an RBI single to lead the Bruin first-inning offensive attack.
Reid lasted only one inning as he allowed four runs, three earned and four hits, snapping his 13.2 scoreless inning streak.
The Commodores cut into the lead in the top third when they got back-to-back homeruns from Steven Liddle and Curt Casali, including a three-run shot from Liddle. The homerun for Liddle was his fourth of the season while Casali’s was his sixth. It marked the first time Vanderbilt had back-to-back jacks this season. Three batters later Joe Loftus gave the Commodores its first lead when he drove in Westlake from third base on a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Bruins tied the game up at five in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single by Packy Elkins and than took the lead on a bases loaded walk to Brandon McCall by reliever Drew Hayes. Belmont extended its lead after an RBI single by Wagner and sacrifice fly by Zeblo, taking an 8-5 lead.
Belmont added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth with the key hit in the inning being Phillip Parsley’s two-out, two-run double making score 11-5.
The Bruins added three more runs in the bottom of the seventh extending its lead to 14-5. Belmont’s big hits in the inning were a Wiley solo homerun and a two-RBI double by Zeblo. Both of the runs came off of the expense of reliever Navery Moore.
Vanderbilt scored a run in the bottom of seventh when Giobbi scored on a fielding error by Elkins.
The Commodores will return to the diamond this weekend as it plays host to Florida in a three game series at Hawkins Field. Friday night’s game with the Gators will begin at 6 p.m. CT. Saturday’s game will begin at 3 p.m. while Sunday’s game is slated for 1 p.m.
Vanderbilt 005 000 010 – 6 6 3
Belmont 400 403 30x – 15 17 2
Reid, Garvin (2), Hayes (4), Bierman (4), Armstrong (6), Moore (7), Goodenow (8) and Giobbi, Westlake. Fanchier, Hamann (3), Whitaker (5), Ivy (6), and Zeblo. W- Hamann 3-0, L- Hayes 2-2. Sv- None. HR: Wiley (9).
