NASHVILLE - Belmont took advantage of a fielding error by Eastern Illinois in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Bruins avoided the sweep with a 7-6 win on Sunday at Rose Park.

EIU fell to 7-27, 4-14 in the OVC.  The Panthers play at nationally ranked Illinois on Tuesday night.  Belmont improved to 21-17, 10-7 in the OVC.

EIU starter Matt Wivinis worked seven innings allowing three runs as Belmont scored two in the bottom of the third and one run in the fifth.  Alec Diamond opened the scoring with a RBI single up the middle.  Tyler Fullerton followed with a run scoring infield single as he was 3-for-5 in the game. 

Bobby Wenthe hit his fourth home run of the week in the top of the fifth to tie the game at 2-2 with a two-run shot.  Wenthe was 2-for-3 in the game.

Drew Ferguson hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth to put Belmont back in front.  Ferguson was 3-for-5.

EIU rallied in the eighth inning to take a 6-3 lead.  Cale Hennemann opened the scoring with a run scoring single in the infield.  Adam Casson had the big hit of the inning for EIU with a two-run double as he finished 2-for-4 at the plate.  Hennemann was also 2-for-4.

Luke Dietz (0-1) recorded two outs in the bottom of the eighth allowing one earned run but was charged with the loss.  Following an infield error that allowed one run to score, Ferguson had a two-run single to give Belmont the lead.

Patrick McGrath (5-2) was credited with the win in relief while Matthew Kinney picked up his fourth save of the season.

Joseph Duncan was 3-for-5 for EIU.  Drake Byrd was 3-for-5 for Belmont.