NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Belmont softball team (13-28, 3-15 OVC) was tripped up despite logging great scoring rallies in each game of Saturday's doubleheader with in-state rival Austin Peay (15-22, 6-13 OVC). The Bruins bounced back from a five run deficit in game one before falling down the stretch in eight innings, 9-5, and saw another rally held off in the nightcap before falling 3-1.
APSU opened the contest with a wind aided solo homerun over the right field fence in the top of the first inning but a strong defensive effort by the Bruins held them to just that one run to close out the inning. Belmont hoped to strike back in the bottom of the second but got caught in a rare triple play halting a bases loaded scoring opportunity.
The Lady Govs added a pair of runs in the top of the fourth courtesy of five hits to take a 3-0 lead. BU had another loaded bases chance to get on the board in the bottom of the same but the three runners were stranded as APSU put in serious work to keep the Bruins off the board.
After Austin Peay added two more runs, the Bruins dug in their heels for a massive seventh inning rally to tie the game and force extra innings after hits were recorded by senior Becca Gift (Durham, N.C.), sophomore Kirbie Ferrell (Pasadena, Texas), junior Ashley Hammer (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) and Hollingsworth smacked her ninth homerun of the season, helping BU knot the game at five runs each.
However, it would be APSU to get the final say on the scoreboard. In the top of the eighth, the Lady Govs were able to load the bases with two outs behind a hit and a pair of walks and used a grand slam by Lauren de Castro to take a 9-5 lead. BU was unable to answer back and fell by the same score.
Game two saw the Bruins jump on the scoreboard first. In the bottom of the second, Hollingsworth reached first base behind a bunt that completely caught the infield off guard. Junior Mia Vierra (Palmdale, Calif.) reached on four balls and a single by freshman Jordan Daly (Humble, Texas) sent a teammate over the plate to put BU on top 1-0.
Belmont held on to its one-run lead until the top of the seventh inning when Austin Peay put together a strong rally, taking advantage of a pair of Bruin errors to score three runs. The Bruins battled to answer back in their half of the inning but stranded a runner en route to falling, 3-1.
For the day, Hollingsworth batted .714 with five hits, a double, a homerun and two RBI. Daly went .500 at the plate with an RBI while Gift hit .400 with two hits, including a double.
Inside the circle, four Bruins saw time, led by junior Brittanie Albright's (Franklin, Tenn.) complete game two. Vierra threw four innings, freshman Taylor Moon (Vestavia, Ala.) tossed three and rookie Carolyn Snodgress (Torrance, Calif.) saw one inning of work.
Belmont returns to action on Sunday at Rose Park for a doubleheader with Murray State. First pitch is scheduled for Noon. Both contests can be seen live on the OVC Digital Network and live stats will be available. A live Twitter feed (@BelmontSoftball) will also be available.
