MARTIN, Tenn. -- Belmont Softball picked up another split on its first OVC road weekend. The Bruins (9-23, 2-5 OVC) knocked off UT Martin (18-14, 3-4 OVC), 7-2, in game one but were tripped up in the nightcap, 13-2. The win marked the first for Belmont over the Skyhawks in 19 tries.
Game One
After a scoreless first inning, Belmont was the first to make a move offensively in the second. Continuing to do great work with two outs on the board, the Bruins used a fielder's choice for junior Amy Zeronian (Pasadena, Calif.) and a single to left by Jordan Spicer (Hendersonville, Tenn.) to get into scoring position. With the door open, sophomore Sheyanne Meadows (Zanesville, Ohio) drove a single up the middle to put the first BU run over the plate. Freshman Hayley Baker (Rockwall, Texas) followed with a single deep to left field to add another run, putting Belmont ahead, 2-0.
BU kept up the hot bats in the top of the third. Senior Jess Wilson (Alvin, Texas) smacked a stand up double to right before junior Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.) smashed her second home run of the season to blow the Bruins' lead up to 4-0. The scoring momentum continued into the top of the fourth. A double by Baker turned into three bases behind an errant throw by the Skyhawks. A sacrifice bunt by junior Kayla Wells (Bonney Lake, Wash.) sent Baker over the plate for another Bruin run. Belmont used back-to-back fielder's choice opportunities to add a sixth run to take a commanding 6-0 lead.
UT Martin was finally able to answer back in the bottom of the same inning behind a solo shot to right center, preventing the Bruin shutout of game one. Belmont added an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning, following the earlier pattern of notching two outs first. Deloney doubled to right center and Zeronian followed with a hard single to first to put runners on the corners. A single to left by Spicer brought the BU run tally to seven and all but put the game out of reach for UTM. The Skyhawks did go on to add one more run to its tally but the Bruins easily cruised to the 7-2 win.
The victory was the first for Belmont in 19 tries over the Skyhawks.
Game Two
It was a reversal of fortunes early in game two for the Bruins. UT Martin jumped out to a 5-0 lead by the end of the second inning. However, the Skyhawks would explode in the bottom of the third inning, tacking on six runs behind a grand slam to take an 11-0 lead. UTM continued its scoring onslaught in the bottom of the fourth picking up two more runs, including another home run.
Belmont attempted to spring to life in the top of the fifth inning. Sophomore Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.) and Baker drilled back-to-back singles up the middle. A sacrifice hit by Wells moved the duo into scoring position and freshman Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.) picked up an RBI after grounding out and pushing Andree over the plate. A poorly fielded ball by UT Martin helped Belmont pick up another run but it was too little too late as the Skyhawks held on for the 13-2 victory.
Belmont returns to action on Saturday, April 2 at E.S. Rose Park. The Bruins host in-state rival Tennessee Tech for a three-game weekend series. Two of the contests will be broadcast live on the OVC Digital Network. Live stats will be available for all three games.
