ATHENS, Ga. - After facing No. 4 Georgia on Friday, the Belmont Bruins (1-11-0) were set to play in-state rival Middle Tennessee State (4-7-0) in their second game of the Bulldog Invitational Tournament hosted by Georgia. Both teams were coming off losses in their previous game of the Bulldog Invitational. After falling behind early, Belmont came roaring back to take the lead in the sixth inning. Nevertheless, Middle Tennessee State responded with three more runs to eventually take the victory by a score of 6-4.
Ashley Byers (Westerville, Ohio) took the mound for the Bruins to start the game, and breezed through the first inning without allowing a hit.
Middle Tennessee State drew the first run, however, in the second inning when a pitch got past catcher Hannah Irwin (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) with the bases loaded to allow one runner to cross the plate.
The Blue Raiders added to their lead in the fourth inning after a couple of throwing errors by the Bruins defense allowed two more runs to cross the plate.
Belmont's offense was able to get on track in the sixth inning, which was kicked off with a single by Ashley Smith (Helena, Ala.). A few errors by the Blue Raiders allowed the Bruins base runners to reach second and third base with one out. After a bunt was mishandled by the Blue Raider's pitcher, Cassie Bollin (Madison, Tenn.) and Amanda Buntin (Brentwood, Tenn.) were able to cross the plate for two scores.
Belmont added two more runs in the same inning when a Brooke Babington (Johnston City, Ill.) single to right field drove in Kelley Cash (Hudson, Ohio) and Sarah Bentley (Springfield, Tenn.) for a one run lead.
Belmont's lead did not last long, as Brittney Banania of Middle Tennessee State was able to tie the game after scoring following a wild pitch.
Another Bruins error later in the inning allowed two more runs to come across the plate, and the Bruins headed into the seventh inning down by two runs.
Needing two runs to extend the game, Belmont found Middle Tennessee State's Lindsey Vander Lugt staring at them from the pitcher's mound. Vander Lugt proceeded to get the first two Bruins batters to ground out, and caused the third Bruins batter to fly out to right field to end the inning and end the game.
The Bruins out hit the Blue Raiders 7-3 in the game, but recorded five errors in the game. Senior Brooke Babington starred for Belmont at the plate with two hits and two RBI.
Belmont will play two more games in the Bulldog Invitational against Minnesota and Elon. Those games will be played at 8:00 a.m. and at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, March 7.
“I expect [the team] to come out and play,” said Coach Kernahan about tomorrow's games. “We are starting to come together as a team. We have our pitching in line, and we hit really well [against Middle Tennessee State]. We expect to come out on fire, and defensively make minor adjustments to make the simple routine plays.”
