NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont (10-33, 3-11) failed to maintain the momentum picked up after Saturday's upset over Florida Gulf Coast, falling in both games of Tuesday's doubleheader against UT-Martin at Rose Park. The Bruins fell 0-11 in five innings in game one and 2-8 in game two.
The first game got off to a rough start for Belmont and only got worse. The Bruins surrendered four runs in the top of the first inning, including a three-run home run, to start out down 0-4. Belmont would manage only four hits on the game will UT-Martin recorded 12 hits and scored 11 runs, including five in the top of the fourth inning. Game one ended after five innings with the Skyhawks taking the 0-11 victory.
Game two started better for the Bruins, who held UTM scoreless in the first inning. The Skyhawks got on the board first with one run in the top of the second inning. Belmont responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the third after sophomore Courtney Elrod (Clarksville, Tenn.). Elrod was caught stealing second for the first out of the inning. Senior Julie Harmon (Brentwood, Tenn.) doubled and advanced to third on a throwing error by the left fielder. Harmon scored on a single from senior Kelley Cash (Hudson, Ohio), for the Bruins' first run of the day.
UT-Martin came back with two runs in the top of the fourth to go ahead 1-3, but Belmont cut the lead to one with a run in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore Becca Gift (Durham, N.C.) singled to start the inning, followed by a bunt single from freshman Mia Vierra (Palmdale, Calif.) that moved Gift to second. Freshman Kim Johnson (Tuscon, Ariz.) singled to score Gift and make it 2-3. The Bruins struggled through the middle innings, giving up three runs in the fifth and two more runs in the top of the seventh to give UTM the 2-8 victory. Belmont had seven hits in game two while the Skyhawks turned in 11, including seven RBIs.
The next action for the Bruins will be a four-game conference homestand as Belmont welcomes Mercer and Kennesaw State to Rose Park on Thursday and Friday this week. The Bruins will take on Mercer on Thursday, with the first game scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Friday's games against Kennesaw State will begin at 1 p.m. Prior to the first game Friday, Belmont will hold Senior Day ceremonies for the team's three seniors: Kelley Cash, Ashley Smith (Helena, Ala.) and Julie Harmon. Those ceremonies will begin at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Friday.
