MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- After jumping out to an early lead, the Belmont Softball team knocked off Middle Tennessee State for its final non-conference matchup of the season. The Bruins (16-32) held off a late rally by the Blue Raiders (23-25) and won, 6-5, snapping a four-game skid.
Belmont, eager to shake off the tough weekend, jumped on the scoreboard in the top of the first. Freshman Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.) reached on a fielding error by MTSU before junior Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.) smashed her fourth home run of the season to put the Bruins on top, 2-0. BU added one more in the top of the second inning behind a solo home run off the first pitch by freshman Jordan Spicer (Hendersonville, Tenn.).
The Blue Raiders finally put across a run in the bottom of the second but BU fired back adding three more runs in the top of the third inning. Cook once again reached on an MTSU error but was caught stealing. Redshirt sophomore Lexi Rouse (Macon, Ga.) and Deloney hit back-to-back singles before sophomore Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.) homered to left, putting Belmont on top, 6-2.
After a pair of quiet innings for both teams, MTSU trimmed Belmont's lead down to one run, 6-5, after a double and a two run home run in the bottom of the fifth. However, that would be as close as the Blue Raiders would come as the Bruins clamped down defensively to hold on for the one run win.
For the day, both Deloney and senior Jess Wilson (Alvin, Texas) went 2-for-3 at the plate.
Inside the circle, freshman Ashley Johnson (Kingwood, Texas) picked up the win and Rouse notched her first save of the season with four strikeouts.
Belmont returns to action this weekend with a three-game series with crosstown rival Tennessee State at E.S. Rose Park. The Bruins begin their regular season home finale on Saturday with a doubleheader set to begin at 3 p.m. BU will honor its senior class on Sunday and turn the park pink on Saturday.
