CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The record breaking season continued for the Belmont Softball team on Monday afternoon as the team faced off against in-state rival Austin Peay for an OVC doubleheader. The Bruins (30-16, 6-9 OVC) crossed the 30-victory mark for the first time since 1996 with its game one shutout 7-0. BU was held off in the nightcap, 5-1.
After a silent first frame for both teams, Belmont sprang into action in the top of the second. Junior Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.) sent a double screaming down the left line and sophomore Jordan Spicer (Hendersonville, Tenn.) followed with her second home run of the season to put the Bruins ahead, 2-0. A stringent defensive effort kept the Govs off the board as BU went on to expand its lead in the top of the fourth inning.
Senior Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.) got things rolling with a double to right center before a ground out by Andree moved her to third. Spicer drove a deep single to right to plate one run. Senior Amy Zeronian (Pasadena, Calif.) was walked and promptly sent home after double by sophomore Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.) and an APSU error, lifting Belmont to a 5-0 lead. The hits kept coming for BU, notching two more in the top of the fifth inning. Sophomore Hayley Baker (Rockwall, Texas) hit a hard single up the middle before junior Lexi Rouse (Macon, Ga.) sent the ball over the fence for her fifth home run of the season, adding two more runs to the BU tally, to go up 7-0. Despite finally recording two hits, Austin Peay could not put together anything at the plate and Belmont cruised to victory by the same score.
In the nightcap, the Govs were the first to make a mark on the scoreboard, picking up three runs in the bottom of the second frame. The hits kept coming for Austin Peay down the stretch. By the bottom of the fifth innings, APSU was ahead 5-0. Finally, the Bruins were able to make a dent in the run deficit. In the top of the sixth frame on just the second pitch, freshman Bailey Sims (Flowery Branch, Ga.) smacked the second home run of her career, a solo shot to right center. Unfortunately, it would be the lone run of the second outing for Belmont. The Governors went on to win, 5-1, to split the doubleheader.
In game one, freshman Brooklin Lee (Burns, Tenn.) went the distance inside the circle, recording a whopping 15 strikeouts. Her tally broke the program record for most strikeouts recorded in a single game. In game two, work was shared between Rouse, sophomore Ashley Johnson (Kingwood, Texas), and freshmen Morgan Marshall (Church Hill, Tenn.) and Abby Irwin (Nolensville, Tenn.). Johnson rang up six strikeouts during her 2.2 innings in the circle.
For the day, Baker led the Bruins at the plate, batting .500.
Belmont returns to action on Tuesday, April 25 at E.S. Rose Park. The Bruins host long-time rival Lipscomb in the annual Battle of the Boulevard series. First pitch for the single game is set for 5 p.m.
