NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A late inning rally fell short for Belmont Softball on the final day of the team's home opening weekend of Ohio Valley Conference play. The Bruins (7-20, 0-3 OVC) were edged by Morehead State (13-9, 3-0 OVC), 4-3, on Sunday afternoon at Rose Park.
The Eagles appeared on their way to a no hitter after piling on four runs by the top of the sixth inning. Suddenly, the Bruin bats came alive in the bottom of the same inning. Freshman Baylee Cook was walked and moved to second after BU's first out. Back-to-back doubles by senior Jess Wilson (Alvin, Texas) and junior Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.) put two runs over the plate and trimmed the MSU lead down to two runs, 4-2.
The Bruins looked to maintain their momentum and close the gap even more even as the Eagles changed pitchers. Another out moved a BU runner to third before junior Amy Zeronian (Pasadena, Calif.) batted a hard ball toward the second baseman to score Deloney and make it a one-run game.
Belmont successfully silenced the Morehead State bats through the top of the seventh and looked to rally once again in the bottom of the same. Redshirt sophomore Lexi Rouse (Macon, Ga.) came in to pinch hit and singled up the middle to open the half inning. However, the Bruins could restart their hot bats from the previous inning and was undone by untimely popups that ended the inning and secured the 4-3 win for MSU.
For the day, Wilson and Deloney picked up runs after both smacked doubles.
Inside the circle, a trio of Bruins saw time. Seniors Shelby Willard (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Taylor Moon and freshman Ashley Johnson (Kingwood, Texas) each took turns. Willard led the trio with a pair of strikeouts.
Belmont returns to action on Wednesday for the softball version of the Battle of the Boulevard against Lipscomb. The first pitch of the single game is set for 5 p.m. at LU's Draper Diamond.
