GULF SHORES, Ala. -- The Belmont Softball team (0-3) dropped a pair of close games on the second day of the Sand Dollar Classic. The Bruins were edged 5-4 by UAB (3-0) before falling in the nightcap, 4-1, to Southern Miss (3-0).
Against UAB
The Blazers jumped out to a 2-0 lead by the end of the first inning and kept the Bruins off the board for the next two innings. Finally, Belmont's bats sprang to life in the top of the fourth. Freshman Hayley Baker (Rockwall, Texas) knocked a single to left and senior Jessica Wilson (Alvin, Texas) was able to reach first on a UAB error. Junior Amy Zeronian (Pasadena, Calif.) was sent to first base with a walk, loading the bases with two outs. Redshirt sophomore Sheyanne Meadows (Zanesville, Ohio) also reached base on balls, walking in BU's lone run of the inning.
UAB fired back in the bottom of the fifth, adding three more runs to go up, 5-1. However, the Bruins continued to battle and put in serious work in the seventh inning. Junior Kayla Wells (Bonney Lake, Wash.) was hit by a pitch to reach first and was moved to second when sophomore Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.) was walked. Baker sacrificed her plate appearance to move the runners into scoring position. Wilson smashed her first double of the season and freshman Jordan Spicer (Hendersonville, Tenn.) followed with a single to center field to put across two runs, cutting the Blazer lead to two runs. Senior Jordan Daly (Humble, Texas) used a sac fly to add one more run to Belmont's tally but the Bruins were held off by one run, 5-4.
Against Southern Miss
The Golden Eagles held the Bruin bats silent for the first three innings as they built a quick 2-0 lead. Belmont notched its lone run of the contest in the bottom of the fourth. Daly and Zeronian got things started with back-to-back singles down the left line. The flurry forced Southern Miss to change pitchers but BU kept coming. Meadows used a sacrifice to put the pair in scoring position.
Junior Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.) flied out to left, allowing Daly to tag up and cross the plate to get the Bruins on the board in the fourth. However, the Golden Eagles clamped down defensively and did not allow Belmont to rally again. Southern Miss added two more runs in the top of the seventh, securing the 4-1 victory.
Belmont returns to action on Sunday morning with a matchup against Samford beginning at 9 a.m.
Live stats will be available.
