Nashville, Tenn. -- Belmont softball wasn't able to hold on Friday evening as IUPUI rallied for a 3-2, eight inning victory in Rose Park's opening contest of the 2015 Music City Classic.
The opposing pitchers came out dueling as neither team managed to light up the scoreboard throughout the first three and a half innings of play.
That changed in the bottom of the fourth, however, when junior Jessica Wilson (Alvin, Tex.) drove home senior Kat Hollingsworth (Carrolton, Tex.) with a two-out double to left field moments after Hollingsworth took base on a walk.
The Bruins' slim advantage was in jeopardy in the top of the sixth inning as an IUPUI walk placed runners on first and second base with no outs.
BU escaped the jam largely due to the heroics of rookie shortstop Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.) who turned a terrific double play while the following batter grounded out to third base.
With their backs firmly against the wall, IUPUI (1-0) soon proved they weren't going to leave Rose Park without a fight as the Jaguars responded in the top of the seventh inning as a single shot to centerfield from senior catcher Eryn Dillon tied up the contest.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.) singled to right field to extend the Bruins hopes of pulling out the final inning victory in dramatic fashion.
That hope was soon vanquished on the following at-bat after Andree struck out swinging, sending the game into extra innings.
Due to the international tiebreaker rule, IUPUI's Morgan Schlobohm was placed on second base to begin the eighth inning.
A subsequent pair of back-to-back sacrifice fly outs to centerfield scored a pair of runs as the Jaguars pulled ahead, 3-1.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Belmont's chances of a rally of their own were dwindling.
An RBI single from BU's Katie Clancy (Pasadena, Calif.) drove in Jess Andree, who was placed at second base due to the international tiebreaker.
BU's rally attempt was thwarted on the following play as a ground out by Amy Zeronion (Pasadena, Calif.) ended the contest in IUPUI's favor, 3-2.
Despite the loss, Belmont's Taylor Moon (Vestavia, Ala.) only allowed a pair of earned runs off seven hits while recording three strikeouts in eight innings of play.
IUPUI's Brooke Boetjer (1-0) was awarded with the victory as the junior allowed a single earned run off four hits while striking out five Bruins on the afternoon.
Belmont (0-1) returns to action tomorrow for a pair of contests on the second day of the 2015 Music City Classic. The Bruins are set to host South Dakota (0-1) at 2 p.m. followed by a 4:30 p.m. contest against UMKC (0-1).
