JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Belmont Softball had one final crack at history on the road Sunday. The Bruins (19-35, 11-16 OVC) dug in their collective heels and battled league leader Jacksonville State (37-14, 26-0 OVC) down the wire, only to be edged, 2-1.
The Gamecocks jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, sending runners over the plate after tagging on sacrifice flys netted by outfielders junior Amy Zeronian (Pasadena, Calif.) and freshman Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.) in the bottom of the first inning. Belmont was finally able to answer in the top of third with Zeronian making it around the bases thanks to a JSU error and a pair of sacrifice flys. Freshman Hayley Baker (Rockwall, Texas) sent a ball screaming to the right fence but the Gamecocks outfielder made a twisting turn to make the play at the fence to keep the Bruins from knotting the score.
BU trailed, 2-1, for the next three innings and had an opportunity to break out in the top of the sixth. Baker singled to left and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Junior Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.) picked up her third consecutive base on balls and a long ball hit by sophomore Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.) was scooped in foul territory to end the two-out rally.
Inside the circle, seniors Shelby Willard (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Taylor Moon (Vestavia Hills, Ala.) and Carolyn Snodgress (Torrance, Calif.) all saw action.
Baker went 1-for-1 at the plate with a walk while Zeronian went 1-for-2 with the team's lone run of the day scored.
Belmont wraps the regular season with a 19-35 overall mark and an 11-16 record in OVC play. Eleven victories are the most wins for the program in the OVC or Atlantic Sun eras. The 19 overall wins mark the most for the Bruins since the 1999 season.
