April 6, 2010
Game 1: Belmont 2, Austin Peay 7: Box Score
Game 2: Belmont 7, Austin Peay 6: Box Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In the first meeting between the Belmont Bruins (6-28-0) and the Austin Peay Lady Govs (9-24-0), Austin Peay took an early lead via a three run shot in the first inning and never looked back on their way to a 7-2 victory. In the second game of the series, Belmont held on to win the game by a score of 7-6.
Austin Peay opened up the scoring with a three run blast from freshman Shine Huwe over the left field wall in the first inning.
Belmont cut into the lead in the fourth inning when a double off the bat of senior Brooke Babington (Johnston City, Ill.) drove in sophomores Cassie Bollin (Madison, Tenn.) and Stayci Cook (Tecumseh, Mich.).
The Lady Govs responded immediately with two runs of their own in the top of the fifth inning. A single and a double led to two Austin Peay runs that put the Lady Govs up by three runs.
Austin Peay added two more insurance runs in the seventh inning for good measure off of a double to left field.
In the first game, Belmont were out hit 11-7.
The Bruins came out more determined to win the second game of the double header. Though the Lady Govs went up by three runs in the top of the first inning, Belmont immediately cut into that lead in the bottom of the inning.
Back to back singles by Ashley Byers (Westerville, Ohio) and Sara Bentley (Springfield, Tenn.) drove in one run apiece to bring the Bruins within one of the Lady Govs after one inning.
Belmont pulled ahead in the third inning when the Bruins managed to load the bases with no outs. A catching error allowed the equalizing run across the plate. Julie Harmon (Brentwood, Tenn.) drove in another run when her lined shot to the third baseman allowed sophomore Ashley Smith (Helena, Ala.) to come in. A single by Courtney Elrod (Clarksville, Tenn.) and a sacrifice bunt by Kelley Cash (Hudson, Ohio) accounted for two more runs in the inning to bring the score to 6-3 going into the fourth inning.
An Austin Peay error in the fifth inning allowed what would prove to be another critical run to cross the plate for the Bruins.
The Lady Govs made the game interesting in the sixth inning when a double that reached the center field wall allowed three runs to cross the plate. After the three RBI double, Austin Peay was within a run of Belmont.
Nursing a one run lead, Belmont pitcher Devon Schmidt (Greenbrier, Tenn.) drew two ground outs from the first two Lady Govs batters of the inning, and induced an infield popup to end the game.
In game two, Belmont out hit Austin Peay 11-9 and committed only two errors to Austin Peay's three.
Belmont had many players contribute to the score in the second game, as six different Belmont batters recorded an RBI in the game.
“We're looking for consistency from positions one through nine in our batting order,” stated Coach Kuhlmeyer after the game. “It is good to see production up and down our lineup today. Hopefully we can carry that positive momentum into tomorrow's game against Western Kentucky”
Belmont will be back in action on Wednesday for another home double header against Western Kentucky. That game will begin at 1:00 p.m. CDT.
