NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Belmont takes a loss in their first home game of the 2026 season against non-conference opponent Bellarmine University.
Bellarmine used a six-run second inning to seize control early and went on to defeat Belmont 11–4 Tuesday afternoon at E.S. Rose Park.
After a scoreless first inning, the Knights broke the game open in the second with a pair of two-run home runs and a two-run double, building a 6–0 advantage. Bellarmine continued to add on through the middle innings and put the game away with three runs in the eighth.
Belmont responded in the fifth inning with its strongest offensive stretch of the day. Jake Maddox highlighted the frame with a two-run triple to center field, and Cavan McMeans followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 8–3. Maddox later scored again in the seventh on a wild pitch, but the Bruins were unable to generate enough offense to close the gap.
Bellarmine finished the afternoon with 16 hits and scored in five different innings. L. Akers scored three times, while C. Huett, E. Watson, L. Scales, and A. Swader each drove in multiple runs.
Belmont collected eight hits, led by Maddox's two-hit, two-RBI performance. Nicholas Stinson and Charlie Davis each added two hits for the Bruins.
On the mound, Bellarmine combined solid relief pitching with timely defense to limit Belmont to one run over the final four innings. Belmont used multiple pitchers after the early second-inning rally, with the bullpen helping keep the game within reach into the late innings.
Up Next
Belmont will continue their home stretch with a double header on Friday against Central Michigan with the first game starting at 1:00 pm from E.S. Rose Park.
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