CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Belmont softball team (7-8) rebounded from an early loss to earn a split in action on day one of the Southern Illinois University-hosted Saluki Invitational. The Bruins fell to Wisconsin (15-3), 7-0, before breezing by UIC (3-14), 8-1, with hot bats.
The Badgers posted a run in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back en route to its 7-0 victory. BU had an opportunity to answer back in the second but instead left a pair of runners stranded after single by freshman Taylor Moon (Vestavia, Ala.). Belmont picked up a pair of hits in the top of the fifth, looking to cut into the 5-0 UW lead. Freshman Jordan Daly (Humble, Texas) and senior Becca Gift (Durham, N.C.) got things cranking with back-to-back singles but were unable to round the bases. Wisconsin went on to add two more runs to take the contest, 7-0.
Belmont experienced a reversal of fortune in its nightcap with Illinois-Chicago. The Bruins jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, courtesy of a walk by Daly and hits by freshman Jessica Wilson (Alvin, Texas) and junior Ashley Hammer (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.). The Flames answered with a run in the top of the fourth but BU continued to pile on the runs, adding two in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings with hits coming from Turner, sophomore Kat Hollingsworth (Carrollton, Texas) and Hammer, who smashed the team's first homeruns of the season, a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Kirbie Ferrell (Pasadena, Texas) and the quick feet of juniors Mia Vierra (Palmdale, Calif.) and Kim Johnson (Tucson, Ariz.) taking advantage of UIC fielding errors. BU then leaned on a strong defensive and pitching effort to close the game and take the contest, 8-1.
For the day, Hollingsworth, Hammer and Wilson each batted .500. Hollingsworth and Hammer finished with three hits apiece while Hammer led the team with four RBI on the day.
Inside the circle, several pitchers saw action. Freshman Carolyn Snodgress (Torrance, Calif.), who threw 6.1 innings, picked up a win and fanned a trio of batters. Moon tossed 4.2 innings and tallied three strikeouts. Vierra and junior Brittanie Albright (Franklin, Tenn.) also saw time.
Belmont returns to action on Sunday for the final day of the Saluki Invitational. Action is slated to get underway at 3 p.m. in a non-conference battle with Eastern Kentucky before the Bruins wrap the tournament taking on host-SIUC at 5 p.m. Live stats will be available for both contests.
