NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Belmont softball team (7-12, 0-3 OVC) was unable to bounce back from a late rally on Sunday afternoon and fell to visiting Eastern Kentucky (14-9, 3-0), 12-7, on Sunday afternoon at Rose Park.
The Lady Colonels struck first, picking up a run in the top of the first before the Bruins got on the board behind a solo homerun to left center by freshman Jordan Daly (Humble, Texas), knotted the score at one, in the following inning.
The teams remained stalemated until the bottom of the fourth when Belmont took the lead for the first time in the contest. Junior Ashley Hammer (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) got things started reaching on a walk before a bunt by classmate Mia Vierra (Palmdale, Calif.) added another runner to the bases. A fielding error by EKU loaded the bases and quick feet saw Hammer cross the plate, putting BU up, 2-1. Unfortunately, the lead was held briefly as Eastern Kentucky fired back in the top of the fifth, adding five runs to its tally.
Belmont dug in its heels and saw five more runs added before the end of the contest, with one coming in the fifth and two in each of the bottoms of the sixth and seventh innings. Notable efforts include singles by freshman Jessica Wilson (Alvin, Texas), sophomores Kirbie Ferrell (Pasadena, Texas) and Kat Hollingsworth (Carrollton, Texas), and a homerun by sophomore Heather Turner (Rosenburg, Texas).
For the day, Wilson batted .750 with a trio of hits. Hollingsworth and Turner led BU in RBI with a total of two apiece.
Inside the circle, four Bruins saw time, led by freshman Taylor Moon (Vestavia, Ala.) and junior Brittanie Albright (Franklin, Tenn.), who combined for three strikeouts.
Belmont returns to action on Wednesday with a doubleheader on the road at Alabama A&M. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. and live stats will be available for the series.
