NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Belmont Bruins softball team used the long ball in the second game of the day Saturday against Morehead State as BU recovered from a 3-1 loss in the opening game to shutout the Eagles, 7-0, in the second contest, earning a split on the day.
Game 1: Morehead State 3, Belmont 1
Both teams got off to a quiet start offensively on the day's opening contest as the two team's bats were silenced through the first four innings of play.
During that stretch, Belmont's Brittanie Albright (Franklin, Tenn.) and MSU's Megan Tymorek starred on the mound as both players threw for four hitless innings.
Belmont dented the scoreboard first as a Jordan Daly (Humble, Tex.) fly ball to centerfield drove in MJ Lawson (Tuscon, Ariz.) as the Bruins took the lead.
Morehead State used a big sixth inning to take control of the game as MSU's Katie Raile evened the contest when she was hit by a pitch in a bases loaded situation.
A two-RBI double to centerfield by Samantha Howard proved to be the difference maker in the low scoring affair as the Eagles held off the Bruins to capture the first game of the three-game weekend series.
Kat Hollingsworth (Carrollton, Tex.) led the offensive effort for the Bruins with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate and a pair of stolen bases.
Game 2: Belmont 7, Morehead State 0
Belmont shook off the frustrating loss in the opening game to shut out Morehead State in the day's final contest as BU rode the momentum of two huge swings from a pair of Bruins.
Belmont came out of the gates swinging as a double by Ashley Hammer (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.)drove in a pair of runs in the home half of the first inning to put the Bruins on the scoreboard. Jessica Wilson (Alvin, Tex.) answered that quickly after with a two-run home run.
The homer was Wilson's third of the year as the sophomore recorded her 16th RBI on the season, on just 15 hits.
Belmont matched a three-run first inning with a three-run third inning using a familiar formula.
The scoring started when Mia Vierra (Palmdale, Calif.) hit her first home run of the season with a two-run shot to centerfield. An RBI single from Jordan Daly soon after put the Bruins comfortably ahead, 6-0.
BU tacked on another run in the bottom of the fifth inning off another RBI hit from Daly as the sophomore flied out to right field.
The Bruins went on to shutout the Eagles as Belmont captured the 7-0 victory to earn a split on the afternoon.
The trio of Vierra, Wilson, and Kirbie Ferrell (Pasadena, Tex.) paced Belmont's offense as all three notched a pair of hits on the contest.
Belmont's Taylor Moon (3-4) earned the shoutout victory as the sophomore threw for five innings, allowing three hits.
Belmont (7-13, 1-1) will be back in action tomorrow as the Bruins wrap up the weekend series with Morehead State (4-13, 1-1) as the Bruins take on the Eagles at noon (CST) at Rose Park. Live stats and video will be available for the contest.
