MACON, Ga. -- Lifted by three home runs, Belmont University Softball made history in its final day on the first day of the Bears Classic. The Bruins (20-5) topped host-Mercer (12-17), 5-0, pushing the team to its first 20 win record in the Division I era.
Belmont was the first to make a mark on the scoreboard, thanks to a solo home run by junior Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.) in the top of the second frame. Senior Amy Zeronian (Pasadena, Calif.) followed suit with a solo shot of her own two batters later.
The hits kept coming in the top of the third inning with junior Lexi Rouse (Macon, Ga.) belting a solo homer over the left fence to put BU ahead, 3-0. Even without bat production in the top of the fourth frame, Belmont walked in two more runs, thanks to Rouse and senior Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.).
The Bruins maintained their 5-0 advantage even as the Bears threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning. Mercer managed to get two players on base and used a sacrifice hit to move runners into scoring position but BU refused to divert from the path of history. Quick work by the Bruin defense ended the inning and ended the Bears' hope of sneaking out a win late.
Freshman Brooklin Lee (Burns, Tenn.) went the distance inside the circle, logging seven strikeouts as she recorded her eighth win of the season.
At the plate, Rouse went 3-for-3 with two RBI in front of a big hometown crowd. Sophomore Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.), Andree, and Zeronian all went 2-for-4.
Belmont returns to action on Friday for day two of the Mercer Bears Classic. BU's first game is set for 2:15 pm CT against first-time opponent Savannah State, followed by a second duel with Eastern Michigan. Live stats will be available for both contests.
