THURSDAY'S SCORES
@Middle Tennessee 3,
Belmont 2
Belmont 3, @Middle Tennessee 1
MIDDLE TENNESSEE 3, BELMONT 2; BELMONT 3, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 1
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Belmont softball team (15-33) earned a split to conclude the non-conference portion of its schedule on Thursday afternoon. At MTSU (7-45), the Bruins were edged in game one, 3-2, before rebounding to win the nightcap, 3-1.
The Blue Raiders jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in game one behind a homerun in the bottom of the first. After being held off the board for four consecutive innings, the Bruins made their move in the top of the sixth. Sophomore Kat Hollingsworth (Carrolton, Texas) singled up the right line and was followed with a double by freshman Jessica Wilson (Alvin, Texas), moving them both into scoring position. Junior Mia Vierra (Palmdale, Calif.) dropped a bunt that sent Hollingsworth over the bag, trimming the MTSU lead to one run, 2-1.
Belmont went on to knot the score behind a single by junior Kim Johnson (Tucson, Ariz.) that sent Wilson over the plate. Senior Becca Gift (Durham, N.C.) pinch hit and loaded the bases on a single that barely rolled out of the batter's box. Despite staying in scoring position for the next two batters, the Bruins would strand three
The 2-2 stalemate would only last until the bottom of the seventh when the Blue Raiders capitalized on a BU throwing error to score the winning run, taking the contest 3-2.
In game two, MTSU scored first in the first inning but the Bruins fired back in the top of the next inning. Hollingsworth singled and Vierra followed with a home run over the left fence, collecting her third of the season and put BU on top, 2-1.
In the top of the fourth, the Bruins added an insurance run. Hollingsworth collected her third walk of the day to reach first base, before stealing second base to open the inning. A hit moved her to third base before a double of left by Gift sent her over the plate to expand BU's lead to two runs, 3-1.
Belmont worked to hold on to its two run advantage over the next three innings. In the bottom of the seventh, freshman Carolyn Snodgress (Torrance, Calif.) rang up a strikeout looking against the first batter. MTSU attempted to rally with the next batter reaching on a single to right but BU turned its first double play of the afternoon, sealing the 3-1 win.
Gift led the way for BU, going 3-for-4 to bat .750 with a double and an RBI. Vierra went 3-for-5 on the day with three hits, including a homerun and three RBI. Hollingsworth hit .500, recording three runs.
Inside the circle, sophomore Katie Clancy (Pasadena, Calif.) picked up the win in game two, tossing five innings. Juniors Vierra and Brittanie Albright (Franklin, Tenn.) and freshmen Snodgress and Taylor Moon (Vestavia, Ala.) also saw action.