COLUMBIA, Tenn. – A slow starting offensive effort by Belmont Softball (3-16) was not enough to topple No. 16 Tennessee (17-5) in the nightcap of the Mid-State Softball Classic. The Bruins were held off 16-0 for the program's first meeting with a ranked opponent this season.
Junior Kayla Wells (Bonney Lake, Wash.) came out the gate swinging in the top of the first inning with a single up the middle. However, a pair of pop ups stranded the leadoff and opened the door for a big half inning for the Vols. One run squeezed in before Tennessee cleared the bases with a grand slam to take a 5-0 lead in their half of the inning. The Vols went on to build a 10-0 lead before BU was able to notch its first out of the inning. Finally with a change in the circle, the Bruins were able to record three outs to end the inning.
The Bruins bats remained quiet as the Vols pushed ahead 12-0 by the bottom of the third. Wells knocked her second single of the contest in the top of the fourth but Tennessee fired back adding four more to take a commanding 16-0 lead.
Senior Shelby Willard (Chattanooga, Tenn.), redshirt sophomore Lexi Rouse (Macon, Ga.), senior Carolyn Snodgress (Torrance, Calif.), senior Taylor Moon (Vestavia Hills, Ala.) and freshman Ashley Johnson (Kingwood, Texas) all saw action inside the circle. The crew combined for seven strikeouts.
Wells led the Bruins at the plate, going 2-for-2.
Belmont returns to action on Thursday, March 10 with its home opener at E.S. Rose Park. The Bruins host Alabama A&M for a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. Live stats and audio will be available.
