OXFORD, Miss. – The Belmont Softball team (3-11) powered its way to its third consecutive win on Friday to open the Red & Blue Classic. The Bruins breezed past UMass (2-7), 7-3, in a two and a half hour battle to open the three-day tournament.
The Bruins exploded in the first inning, taking a commanding lead and forcing a Minutewomen pitching change. Junior Kayla Wells (Bonney Lake, Wash.) reached first, thanks to a UMass error before freshman Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.) was walked. Classmate Jordan Spicer (Hendersonville, Tenn.) singled to load the bases and junior Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.) smacked a single to left to start the scoring frenzy for BU, sending over the plate. Freshman Hayley Baker (Rockwall, Texas) hit a hard infield single, adding two more runs.
A single by redshirt sophomore Lexi Rouse (Macon, Ga.) loaded the bases once again and junior Amy Zeronian (Pasadena, Calif.) was able to record an RBI to bring the Belmont run tally to four. Senior Jordan Daly (Humble, Texas) used a sacrifice bunt to add one more run for the Bruins as the inning ended with BU leading 5-0.
The Minutewomen came storming back in the top of the third inning, tacking on three runs with a double down the left line. However, BU maintained its defensive stranglehold on the contest down the stretch to keep UMass from adding more runs to its tally. Belmont went on to add two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to put the game out of reach.
Sophomore Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.) and Wells notched back-to-back singles to start the half inning. The Minutewomen were able to pick one off but Cook reached first on a fielding error, putting runners on the corners. Spicer grounded up but still recorded an RBI before Deloney's turn at bat resulted in a double up the middle that added another run to put Belmont on top, 7-3. UMass was kept silent offensively in the top of the seventh, securing the victory by the same score.
Deloney went 2-for-2 on the day with a double and two RBI. Wells went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs.
Inside the circle, senior Shelby Willard (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Lexi Rouse split time. Rouse notched a strikeout in the effort.
Belmont returns to action later on Friday against host-Ole Miss. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. Live stats and video will be available.
