GULF SHORES, Ala. -- Belmont softball edged Wright State, 8-7, in the first game of the Bruins' Sunday doubleheader as BU earned the split decision on the weekend, finishing with a 2-2 record in the 2015 Sand Dollar Snow Classic in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
GAME 1: Belmont 8, Wright State 7
Wright State (0-9) drew first blood in the Bruins' opening contest off a sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning.
Belmont answered in the bottom of the first as Jessica Wilson (Alvin, Tex.) notched her first home run of the season as the junior hit a two-run blast to left field.
The Bruins added to their advantage in the second as an RBI single from senior Amanda Criscione (Upland, Calif.) scored Jordan Daly (Humble, Tex.).
The Raiders used the long ball to answer in the third as WSU's Libby Pfeffer hit a three run blast to left field as Wright State jumped ahead, 5-3.
In the bottom of the third, the Bruins used a two-run home run from Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.), to fight back as Belmont retained the lead, 6-5, scoring three runs off a pair of hits. The homer was Deloney second career blast and her first of the season.
BU padded its lead in the sixth as Criscione once again used a single to left field to drive in a pair of runs as the Bruins went up 8-5.
Wright State rallied in the top of the seventh as the Raiders used a single to left field to drive in a pair of runs as WSU inched closer, 8-7.
Belmont's Katie Clancy (Pasadena, Calif.) ended the WSU rally attempt as the senior earned her first win of the year as the right hander recorded the final two outs of the game as the Bruins held on for the 8-7 victory.
Overall, Criscione finished 2-for-3 at the plate to go along with three RBI. Four other Bruins recorded a hit for Belmont.
GAME 2: Bradley 2, Belmont 1
It was a different story in Belmont's Sunday rematch with the Braves as the Bruins hung tough with a Bradley squad that captured the first meeting, 12-1, Saturday afternoon.
Bradley (4-14) used a two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning to dent the scoreboard first.
A single by Jessica Wilson to centerfield drove in Kat Hollingsworth (Carrollton, Tex.) in the top of the fourth. Hollingsworth reached base off her second triple of the year.
The Bruins couldn't draw closer the rest of the way as Belmont only recorded one hit the folowing three innings.
Overall, BU could only register three hits on the contest against the Braves.
Belmont (5-7) returns to action next weekend as the Bruins travel to Rock Hill, South Carolina, for the 2015 Winthrop Tournament.
