COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Belmont softball used hot hitting to earn a split on the afternoon as the Bruins overcame a heart wrenching, 9-8, loss in the opening contest against Tennessee Tech (19-15, 6-4 OVC) to defeat the Golden Eagles, 9-4, Sunday afternoon at the final two contests of the three-game, divisional series at the Tech Softball Field.
GAME 1: TTU 9, Belmont 8
Belmont trailed Tennessee Tech, 3-0, through the first three innings of play in the day's opening contest of the doubleheader before the Bruins were able to light up the scoreboard for the first time on the weekend after an RBI double from freshman Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.) allowed Amanda Criscione (Upland, Calif.) to cross home plate.
TTU tallied a pair of runs in both the fifth and sixth innings in order to put the Golden Eagles ahead, 7-1, heading into the top of seventh.
Belmont rallied in a big way in its final chance as the Bruins' bats helped the visitors tally seven runs off seven hits. The offensivey display was highlighted by a grand slam from sophomore Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.), as BU took a 8-7 advantage heading into the home half of the seventh. The slam was Deloney's third homer of the year.
TTU responded when a two-RBI double down the left field line plated the game-winning runs as the Golden Eagles prevailed, 9-8.
Deloney led a balanced offensive attack that recorded 12 runs on the outing as the catcher finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate. Two other Bruins recorded three hits as senior Kirbie Ferrell (Pasadena, Tex.) finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and Andree finished 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI.
GAME 2: Belmont 9, TTU 5
TTU used a single shot to centerfield in the first inning as the Golden Eagles took the early, 1-0, advantage over the Bruins.
The lethal freshman duo of Jess Andree and Ally Bessette (Bryan, Tex.) revved up the Bruins' offense in the top of the second as Andree tied the game off an RBI single and Bessette gave the Bruins a 3-1 lead with a two RBI double to centerfield.
Belmont's upperclassmen got into the mix shortly after as junior Jessica Wilson (Alvin, Tex.) drove in Bessette on a single to third base and senior outfielder Kat Hollingsworth (Carrollton, Tex.) drove in a pair with a double to right center field as the Bruins upped their advantage, 6-1.
BU finished the second by plating three more runs as Deloney added another big swing when a two-RBI single drove in both Wilson and Hollingsworth and sophomore Kate Black (Knoxville, Tenn.) crossed home plate on a TTU passed ball as Belmont took a commanding, 9-1, advantage over the Golden Eagles.
Tennessee Tech used a pair of homers to inch closer as TTU's Sabrie Neeb hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the second and a solo home run to centerfield by Griffin in the fourth to draw to within five, 9-4.
Tech added another run in the bottom of the seventh but that Bruins were able to hold and earn the split on the afternoon, 9-5.
As a team, Belmont recorded 14 hits, led by Jordan Daly (Humble, Tex.) who finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate. Three other Bruins recorded a pair of hits as Amy Zeronian (Pasedena, Calif.) finished 2-for-3 while Kirbie Ferrell and Kayla Wells (Bonney Lake, Wash.) both finished 2-for-4.
After being shutout on a four-hit outing in yesterday's series-opening defeat to the Golden Eagles, the Bruins plated 17 runs over the two games Sunday on a combined 26 hits.
BU's Carolyn Snodgress (Torrance, Calif.) earned her team-leading fourth victory of the year as the right-hander threw five innings, allowing four runs with one strikeout.
Belmont (9-19, 4-5 OVC) returns home this Wednesday, April 1, as the Bruins are set to take a brief break from conference play by hosting Middle Tennessee for a single game contest at Rose Park. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. CT.
