SPARTANBURG, S.C. - - Belmont (7-20, 0-2) battled Atlantic Sun leading USC Upstate (30-3, 2-0) in both games of the Bruins' first conference games of the 2011 season, but fell 1-2 in game one and 1-4 in game two. Belmont will take on East Tennessee State in a double header tomorrow afternoon.
The first game of the double header was dominated by pitching. The Spartans' Morgan Childers struck out 11 Belmont batters and surrendered only one run, a solo home run from junior Amanda Buntin (Brentwood, Tenn.). It was Buntin's first home run of the season and the second of her career. Sophomore Devon Schmidt (Greenbrier, Tenn.) surrendered only one earned run on five hits while striking out six batters. Schmidt fell to 6-8 on the season.
Belmont got behind early in game two and was never able to recover, falling 1-4 in spite of out-hitting Upstate 8-6. Sophomore Courtney Elrod got her first start at pitcher and surrendered three runs on two hits. Freshman Mia Vierra came on in relief of Elrod and pitched three innings, giving up only one run on two hits. Schmidt came in for Vierra and finished the game, giving up two hits but allowing no runs. The Bruins would get on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning after junior Cassie Bollin reached first on a muffed throw, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from junior Hannah Irwin, and then scored after junior Stayci Cook singled up the middle. It was the second hit of the game for Cook who played her first games today after missing nearly a month due to injury. Cook singled the previous inning, when Belmont was unable to manufacture a run despite putting runners on base with no outs. For the game, Belmont left seven runners on base. Cook was one of two Bruins to record multiple hits in the game. Sophomore Becca Gift (Durham, N.C.) also recorded two hits for the game.
The Bruins continue their conference road swing tomorrow with a double header at East Tennessee State University. The first game is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. CST, with the second game to follow. Belmont is 2-10 all time against ETSU, with their last win coming in the last meeting between the two teams.
