KENNESAW, Ga. – In the first series of a critical conference road trip, the Belmont Bruins (6-32-0, 2-8-0) drop two games to the Kennesaw State Owls (19-16-0, 5-3-0). After taking an early lead via Ashley Byers' eighth home run of the season, a big fifth inning allowed the Owls to take the first game by a score of 8-5. Despite out hitting Kennesaw State in the second game of the double header, Belmont was unable to muster a score and dropped the second game by a score of 2-0.
Ashley Byers (Westerville, Ohio) opened the scoring in the first game with a three run shot to left field. The home run was Byers' eighth of the season and puts her in sole possession of Belmont's home run record in the division-1 era.
Kennesaw State responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning when Sharon Swanson's double drove in runners from second and third base.
Kennesaw State opened the game up in the fifth inning when the Owls were able to put four more runs on the board to go up by three runs.
Belmont manufactured two more runs in the sixth inning to cut Kennesaw State's lead to one. Amanda Buntin (Brentwood, Tenn.) singled to center field to drive in Ashley Byers from third base, and a sacrifice bunt by freshman Courtney Elrod (Clarksville, Tenn.) allowed to Cassie Bollin (Madison, Tenn.) to cross the plate.
The Owls added an insurance run in the sixth inning of the game, and Belmont were unable to draw any closer in the seventh inning to drop the game by a score of 7-5.
The second game proved to be a test of wills between the Bruins and the Owls. Kennesaw State posted two runs in the second inning when a double to left field drove in runners from second and third base.
The Bruins tried to make a late comeback late in the game, but Belmont left runners stranded on second and third in the sixth inning to come away without a run. Belmont also had a chance in the seventh inning, but again left runners stranded on second and third base.
Despite the losses, Belmont out hit the Owls in both games. Through both games, Belmont recorded 12 hits to Kennesaw State's seven.
The Bruins will be back in action on Saturday as they face the Mercer Bears in the second conference double header of their current road trip. Mercer currently sits one place ahead of Belmont in the Atlantic Sun standings.
