JACKSONVILLE – Tony Urban just three hits and Travis Stout tied the school record with his 15th career save as Jacksonville State claimed a 2-0 shutout over Belmont in the series finale on Sunday afternoon.
Jacksonville State improves to 27-21 overall and 18-6 in the league, while Belmont falls to 32-14 and 18-6 in the league. Both teams are currently behind league-leading Tennessee Tech’s 19-5 conference record, but Tech will host Belmont in the regular-season finale in two weeks. Urban improved to 3-1 on the season after scattering three hits in seven solid innings on the mound, with three strikeouts. Stout pitched the eighth and ninth innings to earn the save and tie Todd Hornsby’s school record of 15 saves. Scott Moses (3-2) gave up three hits, walked four and had one strikeout to suffer the loss in relief for the Bruins.
The Gamecocks managed just one hit through the first four innings off Belmont starter Chase Brookshire, who pitched four innings with five strikeouts and allowed just one hit. It was the first appearance for the OVC Preseason Pitcher of the Year since March 18.
Belmont lifted Brookshire for Moses in the fifth inning, and the Gamecocks were able to take advantage of three walks that loaded the bases for Griff Gordon. Gordon followed with a two-out single to left field to score Cal Lambert and Michael Bishop and give Jax State a 2-0 lead.
Urban then retired nine straight batters from the fifth through the seventh innings, before being lifted in the top of the eighth inning after Judah Akers led off with a single and Spencer Petett walked to put runners on first and second with no outs.
Stout then got Jamie Ritchie to foul out to the catcher, Dom Veltri flied out to right and Drew Ferguson struck out to end the eighth inning threat.
The Bruins then had runners on second and third with one out in the ninth, before Stout struck out Matt Beaty and Akers flied out to right field to end the game.
Jax State finished with four hits in the game, one each by Bishop, Gordon, Eddie Mora-Loera and Cal Lambert. Jared Breen and Turner each had two hits for Belmont, who finished with just five hits in the game.
The Gamecocks will play host to the Auburn Tigers on Tuesday evening at Rudy Abbott Field. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m. and gates will open at 5 p.m. Fans can purchase advance tickets online at JSUGamecockSports.com.
(JSUGamecockSports.com)