OXFORD, Ala. -- A three run bomb unleashed by sophomore Sami Long (Springfield, Ill.) secured a victory for Belmont Softball over Missouri State on the final day of the Leon Smith Classic. The Bruins (18-4) outlasted the Bears (10-9), 3-2.
The Bears were the first to make a mark on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning. Missouri State used a pair of singles and a scoring error to plate a run. Belmont was kept off the board until the top of the fifth. Back-to-back singles by freshman Bailey Sims (Flowery Branch, Ga.) and sophomore Jordan Spicer (Hendersonville, Tenn.) opened the door for sophomore Sami Long (Springfield, Ill.) to unleash her second home run of the season over the center field fence, netting three runs.
Missouri State answered back in their half of the same inning, using an illegal pitch to push a runner over the plate in a bases loaded situation. However, BU looked to sophomore Hayley Baker (Rockwall, Texas), who made a pair of great catches in right field to end the inning and preserve the 3-2 Belmont advantage.
The Bruin defense turned it up a notch over the next two innings to hold off the constantly threatening Bears. In the bottom of the seventh, Long and Sims both threw lasers across the infield to make plays at first base slow Missouri State. Finally, sophomore Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.) fielded a pop up for third out in left field to secure Belmont's 3-2 win.
Five different Bruins logged a hit in the win while freshman Brooklin Lee (Burns, Tenn.) went the distance in the circle, logging three strikeouts.
