NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Defense was the name of the game for Belmont Softball as it rolled to a pair of victories on Saturday afternoon at E.S. Rose Park. The Bruins (11-1) swept visiting Alabama State (3-9), winning 5-4 in game one and notching a no-hit 2-0 victory in the nightcap.
Game one saw Alabama State put up runs first, taking the lead behind a three-run home run. The Hornets expanded their lead to four runs by the top of the third. Finally, the Bruins were able to get an offensive rhythm together in their half of the same inning. Belmont was able to load the bases and saw senior Kayla Wells (Bonney Lake, Wash.) steal home. A hard hit ball by junior Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.) sent freshman Bailey Sims (Flowery Branch, Ga.) over the plate before sophomore Sami Long (Springfield, Ill.) drilled a triple to right to add two more runs to the BU tally, knotting the score, 4-4.
The duel remained stalemated for the next four innings, forcing the contest into an eighth and deciding frame. The Bruins quickly retired Alabama State with three consecutive groundouts. Belmont capitalized on a Hornet error that opened the door for a single to left by Sims that sent senior Amy Zeronian (Pasadena, Calif.) over the plate for the game winner.
The nightcap was all Belmont from start to finish. After a silent first stanza, the Bruins went to work immediately. Senior Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.) smashed a solo home run over the left fence and BU was able to add another run to its tally following a Stanton single to left that sent Long over home plate.
The two run tally would be enough to secure the victory down the stretch as junior Lexi Rouse (Macon, Ga.) continued to shine inside the circle en route to her first no hitter as a Bruin. Belmont's defense remained stingy, including a stunning third inning output by Long, who grabbed all three outs, highlighted by a backhanded over the shoulder grab while she was running backwards. Alabama State stranded three runners in the top of the sixth in its last ditch effort to make an inroad on the scoreboard. However, Rouse hung on for the career milestone, ending the contest with a strikeout, the lone one of her afternoon in the circle.
At the plate, BU was led by Deloney, who batted .500, including her solo home run. Long recorded a pair of RBI to lead in the category.
Inside the circle, Rouse used her no-hitter to push her to a 4-0 record and a paltry 0.40 season ERA. Sophomore Ashley Johnson (Kingwood, Texas) rolled to her third win and second complete game of the season. Each recorded four strikeouts on the day.
Belmont returns to action at the Blues City Classic, hosted by Memphis, March 3-5.
