Feb. 28, 2010
Final Stats
ATHENS, Ga. – The Belmont Bruins (1-10-0) traveled to Athens on Friday to face their stiffest opponent of the 2010 season, the Georgia Bulldogs (15-1-0). Georgia was ranked No. 4 in the nation by the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 poll, and No. 6 in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25 poll the past week. Georgia's offense and pitching were on display as the Bulldog batters combined for ten runs and three home runs and pitchers Sarah McLoud and Alison Owen combined to pitch a no hitter en route to a 10-0 defeat of the Belmont Bruins.
Belmont struggled with Georgia starting pitcher, Sarah McLoud, in the first inning as the top three batters in the Bruins lineup were struck out to begin the game. McLoud earned SEC Pitcher of the Week earlier in the year after a weekend in which she earned a 0.00 ERA in 11 innings pitched against opponents UCF and FAU.
In the bottom of the first inning, Belmont looked to have dodged a bullet when a line drive to shortstop Sara Bentley (Springfield, Tenn.) was turned into a double play with the bases loaded to keep any runs from scoring. With only two outs in the inning, however, the Bulldogs still had a window in which to work, and they were able to capitalize.
A single to right field scored one run in the inning. The following batter for the Bulldogs homered to right field to drive in three additional runs for Georgia putting the Bulldogs up by four.
Georgia added to their lead in the second inning when Junior Taylor Schloppy hit a two run home run to put the Bulldogs up by six.
The lead was increased again in the third inning when another Kristyn Sandberg single scored one run. Georgia increased the lead to nine runs in the bottom of the third by continuing their streak of home runs when junior Laura Trout knocked out another two run home run.
Belmont looked threatening in the top of the fourth inning. Two Bruins were able to reach base after fielding errors by the Bulldogs, and a third base runner was added when a pitch hit junior Kelley Cash (Hudson, Ohio). With the bases loaded, McLoud struck out the final Bruins batter to get out of the inning unscathed and with her no hitter still intact.
Georgia tacked on another run in the fourth inning when a double hit by junior Jennie Auger brought home the Bulldog's tenth run of the game.
Belmont, needing three runs to keep the game going, was able to put the lead off batter on base in the top of the fifth inning, but were unable to do any further damage.
The game ended with a 10-0 victory for the Georgia Bulldogs. In the game, the Bruins were out hit 8-0. The Bruins did hold the edge over the Bulldogs in errors committed, as Georgia had two to Belmont's zero.
“We approached the [game against Georgia] in this kind of realm, that this is the best we're going to face this season,” said Belmont Coach Jenifer Kernahan. “We walked away with an error free game, which is a plus, and we did a lot of things well. We wanted to make adjustments, and that's what this game was about. I think we'll be better for it, and I expect us to come back and take some games moving forward.”
Belmont will be back in action Saturday morning as they face off against in state rival Middle Tennessee State at 11:15 a.m. The game will be Belmont's second game in the Georgia Softball Classic.
