FORT MYERS, Fla. - - Belmont (10-31, 3-11) used a four-run fifth inning and a two-run homerun from junior Ashley Byers (Westerville, Ohio) in the bottom of the sixth inning in game two to earn a split on the road at Florida Gulf Coast Saturday afternoon. The win was the first for the Bruins in series history and marked the third conference win and 10th overall win of the season, matching the win total for 2010.
Belmont struggled to score a run in game one, managing only three hits in the 0-6 loss. FGCU scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to move ahead, 0-5. The Eagles added one more run in the bottom of the sixth to reach the final 0-6 margin. The Bruins left six runners on base and surrendered 11 hits to FGCU. The Eagles, currently sitting in second place in the Atlantic Sun Conference, recorded their 28th victory of the season and their seventh straight win over Belmont in game one.
After two scoreless innings, FGCU got on the scoreboard first in game two, scoring two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Belmont rallied with four runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 4-2 lead. The inning began with an infield single from junior Amanda Buntin (Brentwood, Tenn.). Senior Julie Harmon (Brentwood, Tenn.) reached on a bunt single and advanced Buntin to second. Junior Hannah Irwin (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) recorded a one-out single to center field scoring Buntin. Junior Cassie Bollin (Madison, Tenn.) reached on a fielding error, loading the bases. Byers followed with a single of her own, scoring Harmon. Sophomore Becca Gift (Durham, N.C.) reached on a fielder's choice and scored Irwin. Bollin would also score on a throwing error made on the same play, making the score 4-2 in favor of the Bruins.
Florida Gulf Coast would respond with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning after Belmont added a run to make it 5-2 headed into the bottom of the inning. At the completion of six innings, the Bruins held a slim one-run lead, 5-4. Belmont would add two runs in the top of the seventh inning to reach the final 7-4 margin. The inning began with an infield single for Buntin. Byers followed with her ninth home run of the season and the 19th of her career. Byers already holds the single-season record for home runs in the division one era with 10 homers in 2010. She on is pace to break that record this season.
Gift earned her first victory of the season in the circle, surrendering five hits and three earned runs in 5.0 innings of work. Devon Schmidt, who leads the Bruins in wins this season with eight wins, picked up her first save of the season and the first for Belmont with two innings of relief pitching, giving up one hit and no runs. The Bruins had 12 hits and six RBIs, while committing only one error and stranding seven baserunners. Belmont was led once again by Byers whose home run was her second in three games. Byers also led the team with seven hits and seven RBIs for the weekend.
The next action for the Bruins is a doubleheader with UT-Martin in Nashville on Tuesday, April 19th. The games are part of a six game homestand for Belmont. Mercer and Kennesaw State will also visit Rose Park for the first time when they take on the Bruins at the end of the week. The Mercer games will be played Thursday, April 21st, with the first game beginning at 4 p.m. while the Kennesaw State games will be played on Friday, April 22nd, with the first game beginning at 1 p.m. Belmont will celebrate Senior Day with ceremonies on April 22nd.
