MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Belmont softball dropped a pair of contests to Memphis (9-12) Tuesday afternoon; 8-6, 9-1.
GAME 1: Memphis 8, Belmont 6
The Bruins drew first blood in the first contest of the St. Patrick's Day late afternoon doubleheader as a two-RBI double to center field in the top of the first inning from sophomore catcher Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala) put the Bruins on the board, 2-0.
The Tigers immediately answered in a big way in the home half of the first as Memphis notched seven runs off three hits. A two-RBI single from Katie Brignac and a three-RBI triple to right center from Sami Jo Schulz highlighted a big inning for the home team.
Both teams added a run in the fifth inning as senior Kirbie Ferrell (Pasadena, Tex.) recorded her first RBI of the season when a single down the right field line scored Kate Black (Knoxville, Tenn.)
The Bruins still found themselves trailing, 8-3, with their backs firmly against the wall heading into the top of the seventh inning.
BU rallied as the Bruins recorded three runs off four hits, highlighted by big swings by the senior duo of Ferrell and outfielder Kat Hollingsworth (Carrollton, Tex.).
With one out, Ferrell recorded her second RBI of the day when a single up the middle allowed freshman Ally Bessette (Bryan, Tex.) to cross home plate.
Later in the inning and with the Bruins on their final out of the game, Hollingsworth brought her team-leading RBI total to 13 after RBI double to center field scored both Ferrell and Black. The double was her team-best fifth of the year.
The Tigers held on, however, as Deloney flied out to left field for the final out of the contest as Memphis thwarted the Bruins' rally attempt and picked up the 8-6 victory in the first game of the doubleheader.
Overall, the Bruins held a slim, 8-7, advantage on hits as Kirbie Ferrell had an excellent offensive outing for BU.
The senior finished a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate with a pair of RBIs in just her second contest of the year. The veteran has missed most of the season due to recovering from an illness suffered in the preseason. Hollingsworth added a 2-for-3 effort for the Bruins.
GAME 2: Memphis 9, Belmont 1
Mistakes proved to be the downfall for the Bruins in the second game of the doubleheader as the Tigers used three BU errors and seven hits to tally nine runs through the first four innings of play.
Down 9-0 in the top of the fifth inning, Belmont dented the scoreboard for the first time on the day as junior Jessica Wilson (Alvin, Tex.) reached base on a fielder's choice that scored freshman Ally Bessette.
The hole was two big for the Bruins to overcome, however, as Memphis went on for the 9-1 victory in five innings of play and recorded a sweep over Belmont on the day.
Four different Bruins tallied a hit on the contest.
On the day, Ferrell finished 3-for-5 at the plate while Hollingsworth used a leadoff single in the top of the second inning in the nightcap to finish the day going 3-for-6 with a pair of RBI.
Belmont (5-16, 0-2 OVC) returns to action this weekend as the Bruins are set for a pair of conference doubleheaders at Rose Park.
BU is set for a pair of games against Murray State Saturday afternoon with first pitch set for noon. Austin Peay comes to Rose Park on Sunday for a doubleheader with the Bruins starting at 1 p.m.
