Playing in one of the newest venues in northeast Indiana, the Bellmont Braves did not put up much of a fight Tuesday, managing just one hit and handing the Eagles extra outs in a 5-0 NE8 loss.
Playing in just their second game in 11 days, the Braves showed some definite rust after missing out on several fixtures due to cold weather and rain over the past two weeks.
Coach Tom Montgomery started Eli Laurent to begin a run of three games in three nights and after a walk to leadoff hitter Coleman Clark, the Bellmont defense committed the first of four errors on the night on a fly ball to center and Clark came all the way around to score.
A baserunning error by a pinch runner after Keagan Martin became the Braves’ first base runner killed a second-inning rally and Columbia City created more havoc in the bottom of the second, loading the bases thanks to another Bellmont error.
Laurent got out of the jam unscathed, though, by striking out the side and leaving the bases juiced.Â
Columbia City starter Lukus Schmitt issued another walk but the Braves ran themselves into a double play to end the third.
Laurent picked up his fourth and fifth strikeouts of the night in the fourth inning, but the Braves found no success at the plate against Schmitt. Z
Two doubles and a third Bellmont error knocked Laurent out of the game with one out in the fifth, but reliever Beau Baker allowed both inherited runners to score and the home team led 5-0. Baker stranded a runner in scoring position with a big strikeout of Devin Krider to end the fifth.
The Braves’ only hit came off the bat of Gavin Krull to lead off the sixth, but the next two batters failed to advance him. Schmitt walked Jack Scheumann and Laurent to load the bases with two out, but ended the inning with a groundout to short.Â
Keagan Martin made quick work of the Eagles in the bottom of the sixth, but Bellmont also went 1-2-3 in their final at-bats.Â
After starting the season with a win over Adams Central, the team has now lost four in a row. They will try to rebound in a non-conference game at Woodlan Wednesday.
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