EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Despite strong defensive play, the Belmont softball team (12-21, 2-11 OVC) struggled to find an offensive rhythm on Sunday afternoon at SIU Edwardsville (27-8, 11-2 OVC). The Bruins were held off 5-0 in game one before being edged in the nightcap, 2-0.
The Bruins stranded a single batter in each of the first three innings of game one while SIUE was able to get one over the plate in the bottom of the first inning. The Cougars were able to add three more runs in the top of the fifth to take a 4-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, Belmont appeared to have a great opportunity to put runs on the board. Senior Becca Gift (Durham, N.C.) reached on an SIUE throwing error before junior Mia Vierra (Palmdale, Calif.) and sophomore Kirbie Ferrell (Pasadena, Texas) knocked back-to-back singles to load the bases. Unfortunately, the Bruins saw the next two batters sat down and stranded the trio. The Cougars added one more run in the bottom of the same inning and leaned on the strong pitching of Haley Chambers over the remaining innings to secure to 5-0 win.
Game two saw SIU Edwardsville pick up runs in both the first and second innings off solo homeruns. The Bruins hit production was slowed in the early innings and they were able to record in the top of the third inning when Gift smashed a screamer down the left field line.
Belmont attempted another fifth inning rally to get a run on the board. Junior Kim Johnson (Tucson, Ariz.) opened the inning with a shot to the SIUE shortstop. Junior Kayla Brown (Beech Grove, Ind.) was brought in to pinch run for her and Vierra used a well placed sacrifice bunt to move her to second. Freshman Taylor Moon (Vestavia, Ala.) singled through the right side to put runners on the corners but the Cougars used a double play to douse the rally flames.
BU's final attempt to get on the board came in the top of the seventh inning. Sophomore Heather Turner (Rosenburg, Texas) opened the inning with a hard double to left field but she was called for runners' interference on her way to third base as she tried to leap over a single to the shortstop by Moon as BU's third out of the inning. The ill-timed mishap stalled the rally and handed the Cougars the 2-0 victory to sweep the series.
For the day, Moon batted .667, going 2-for-3 while Vierra went .400, after going 2-for-5.
Inside the circle, Vierra led the Bruin pitchers with a complete game in six innings of work. Junior Brittanie Albright (Franklin, Tenn.) fanned three batters in game one.
Belmont returns to action on April 10 with a Battle of the Boulevard doubleheader at Lipscomb. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m.
