EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Belmont softball recorded its first shutout of the season as the Bruins travelled to first-place SIUE (34-10, 15-4 OVC) and earned a split on the afternoon with the Cougars.
GAME 1: SIUE 3, Belmont 0
Trailing by just a run heading into the fifth inning, a single to right field from Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.) put the tying run on base but that was the final Bruin hit of the contest as the Cougars added a pair of runs in the home half of the fifth to secure the 3-0 shutout victory.
Overall, Belmont was held to just three hits in the opening contest as starting SIUE pitcher Haley Chambers proved to be a difficult matchup from the circle.
Chambers (20-4) finished the complete game, shutout for the Cougars with five strikeouts.
Senior Kat Hollingsworth (Carrollton, Texas), sophomore Amy Zeronian (Pasadena, Calif.) and Andree were the three Bruins to register hits.
Hollingsworth recorded her team-leading 14th double in the first inning. Currently sitting at 42 for her career, the outfielder is just one shy of tying former BU great Kelly Major (2004-07) for second all time in Belmont history.
Zeronian also recorded a double, her second of the year, as a shot to right field in the top of the third inning extended the outfielder's hitting streak to eight games.
BU's Taylor Moon (Vestavia, Ala.) was credited with the loss as the junior gave up three earned runs and seven hits through six innings of work.
GAME 2: Belmont 2, SIUE 0
Amy Zeronian didn't wait long to extend her hitting streak to nine games as the outfielder led off the Bruins in the first inning with her second double of the day.
With Zeronian sitting on third base, fellow outfielder Kat Hollingsworth drove in the sophomore off a perfectly executed sacrifice fly to center field as the Bruins dented the scoreboard for the first time on the afternoon.
With BU clinging to a 1-0 advantage after five complete innings, Belmont used a solo blast to right field from Hollingsworth in the top of the sixth inning in order to extend its advantage, 2-0.
The homer, her third of the year, ties Jessica Wilson (Alvin, Texas) and Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.) for a team-most on the season. Hollingsworth currently ranks second in program history with 18 career blasts.
Belmont found itself in a precarious position in the bottom of the seventh as a pair of walks put SIUE runners on first and second base with no outs.
With the potential game-tying runs on base, starting BU pitcher Caroyln Snodgress (Torrance, Calif.) calmly escaped the jam, recording three consecutive outs as Belmont recorded the split on the day with a 2-0 shutout victory.
BU notched four hits on the day from four different Bruins.
Snodgress (5-7) was credited with the win as the junior threw a complete game for the Bruins, allowing no earned runs while recording three strikeouts.
Belmont (10-28, 5-13 OVC) returns to action with another doubleheader Sunday afternoon as the Bruins are set to travel to Eastern Illinois for a twin bill with the Panthers. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. CT.
