MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Belmont softball team (4-2) continued its winning ways of late, picking up a pair of shutout victories on the opening day of the ASU Hornet Invitational. The Bruins shutout UNC Greensboro (3-1) in extra innings, 1-0, and blew by host-Alabama State (0-6), 7-0, and improve to 4-2 on the young season.
Game one was an intense defensive battle, anchored by strong pitching by both squads. UNC Greensboro was the first to record a hit finally in the fourth inning but it would not be until two innings later that the Bruins would repeat the feat. Unfortunately, neither was able to get a run over the plate.
Stalemated at 0-0, the teams headed into an eighth and deciding inning. BU worked to keep the Spartans off the board in the top half and looked to the bottom of the order to produce the game winning run. With just one out on the board, sophomore Heather Turner (Rosenburg, Texas) was placed on second and moved to third on a throwing error. Junior MJ Lawson (Tucson, Ariz.) reached on a fielder's choice and was able to advance to second to put two runners in scoring position. Sophomore Kat Hollingsworth (Carrollton, Texas) smashed a double to send Turner home for the game winning run, giving Belmont its first shutout of the season.
Belmont finished the contest with one run, three hits and an error while UNCG finished with four hits and two errors.
Rookie Carolyn Snodgress (Torrance, Calif.) tossed her second complete game of the season and finished with six strikeouts.
The Bruins carried their momentum into their second game of the day against host-Alabama State. Hollingsworth's bat remained on fire, getting things started with her first homerun of the season over the centerfield fence at the top of first inning. Sophomore Kirbie Ferrell (Pasadena, Texas) and junior Mia Vierra (Palmdale, Calif.) each tallied singles and runs to send BU into the bottom of the same inning 3-0.
Belmont cruised until the fifth, adding another run behind on Hollingsworth's second double of the day and a single by Vierra sent her home. Alabama State attempted to get into the contest with a rally in the bottom of the fifth inning with one out. A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases seemed to signal a run would score but the Bruins clamped down defensively and used a squeeze play at the plate and a strikeout by junior Brittanie Albright (Franklin, Tenn.) to hold on to the 4-0 lead. The Hornets surged once in the following inning, loading the bases with no outs. However, BU dug in its collective heels and turned a double play before Vierra tallied her first strikeout of the afternoon to close the inning.
BU finished on a tear, adding three more runs to its tally in the top of the seventh to put the game out of reach for good. Sophomore Amanda Criscione (Upland, Calif.) singled up the middle and stole second before a well-placed bunt by Ferrell moved her over the plate after a bad Alabama State throw. Freshman Jordan Daly (Humble, Texas) made contact, sending a single into right field that set up Ferrell to sneak home on a wild pitch for the Bruins' third run of the inning. The Hornets attempted once more to answer back but stranded a pair of runners as Belmont held on for the 7-0 victory.
BU finished the game with seven runs on 12 hits and one error while ASU finished with five hits and one error.
Albright, who earned the W, finished with five strikeouts. Vierra tossed two innings in relief to help secure the victory.
For the day, Criscione led BU, batting .500, followed by Ferrell and Vierra, who both hit .429 over the two games. Hollingsworth finished with two doubles, one homerun and five RBI. Vierra also tallied five RBI.
Belmont returns to action on day two of the ASU Hornet Invitational. The Bruins face off against UNC Greensboro at 3:30 p.m. and take on host-Alabama State in the nightcap. Live stats for both games will be available here: http://www.sidearmstats.com/alasu/softball/scoreboard.aspx.
