NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - The Belmont (7-16) softball team got back-to-back victories for the first time in the 2011 season with two wins over Southeast Missouri State on Thursday afternoon. The Bruins took the first game in the double-header 3-0, and won game two in extra innings, 6-5.
In a series between two closely matched teams, it took Belmont five innings to finally break a 0-0 tie in game one. The Bruins scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth to go ahead 2-0. Belmont put up a solid defensive effort in the first game, surrendering no runs and only one hit in the game. The Bruins were also error free through the first seven innings of the day. Leading the defense for Belmont was sophomore pitcher Devon Schmidt (Greenbrier, Tenn.), who struck out six batters in the game. The offensive bats, which had been mostly silent for the Bruins over the past several games, came to life this afternoon, as Belmont recorded seven hits in the first game. Junior Amanda Buntin (Brentwood, Tenn.) came across to score the first run for the Bruins after she singled with one out in the bottom of the fifth. Buntin stole second and then scored when freshman Mary Lawson (Tuscon, Ariz.) doubled. Lawson went to third when senior Julie Harmon (Brentwood, Tenn.) reached on a bunt single. Lawson was thrown out at the plate for the second out of the inning after Harmon successfully stole second base. Harmon would also come across to score in the fifth on a single from freshman Mia Vierra (Palmdale, Calif.). The Bruins scored a security run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Hannah Irwin singled and then advanced to second before a single from sophomore Becca Gift (Durham, N.C.) scored her from third. Belmont won game one, 3-0.
The second game was all about offense, as the two teams combined for 23 hits in eight innings. SEMO actually won the hitting battle, 12-11. The Redhawks started off hot, scoring one run in the top of the first inning. Belmont would answer in the bottom of the second inning with four runs of their own to move ahead 4-1. Three of the Bruins' runs came on a three-run home run from Vierra, the first of her career. The next batter in the line-up, Hannah Irwin (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.), reached on a single and advanced to second on an error by the center fielder. Irwin would come across to score after single from junior Ashley Byers (Westerville, Ohio). Gift would also single in the inning before senior Kelley Cash (Hudson, Ohio) grounded out to second base to end the inning.
SEMO scored two more runs in the top of the fourth to make it a one run game. Belmont managed no hits in the bottom of the inning and the Redhawks continued their comeback, scoring the tying run in the top of the fifth inning. The score would remain tied until the bottom of the sixth when Belmont would score a go-ahead run after a single by Vierra got the inning started. Vierra would come around to score after a double by Byers. Belmont went into the top of the seventh with a one run lead, but SEMO responded with a run of their own to tie the game. The Bruins were unable to score in the bottom of the seventh and the game went into a tiebreaker.
In extra innings, Belmont got out of a tough spot when the Redhawks bunted the runner from second to third. With a runner on third, the next batter recorded an infield single, putting runners on first and third with only one out. Schmidt recorded another strikeout before Vierra came on in relief of Schmidt, who had pitched her second set of seven innings on the day. Vierra managed a strikeout to end the inning and keep runs from scoring as the Bruins headed into the bottom of the eighth. Vierra would have a chance to secure the win for herself when she was placed on second for the home half of the extra inning. Irwin struck out for the first half of the inning and the Redhawks intentionally walked Byers bringing Gift to the plate. Gift put a ball in play, advancing both runners and putting Vierra on third. Vierra would score the winning run after a wild pitch from Southeast Missouri State. On the day, Belmont recorded 11 hits and committed four errors, while surrendering only one earned run. Schmidt struck out nine in game two to bring her total for the day to 15 strikeouts in 14.2 innings of work. Vierra picked up her first win of the season.
Belmont moved to 7-16 on the season as they prepare to start Atlantic Sun play next week. The Bruins will be on the road for a midweek game against Western Kentucky, with the single match-up starting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22nd. The team will open conference play with two more road games at USC Upstate and at East Tennessee State. The next home action for Belmont will be March 31st against Samford with the opening game at E.S. Rose Park. That double-header is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
