NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Late inning rallies fell just shy for the Belmont Softball team in a pair of doubleheaders at E.S. Rose Park on Saturday afternooon. The Bruins (30-19, 6-11 OVC) rallied in both games but fell to in-state rival UT Martin (34-15, 11-4 OVC), 6-4, in game one's extra innings, and 8-5, in game two.
In game one, the Skyhawks jumped out to a 4-0 lead before BU could answer back in the bottom of the third inning. Sophomore Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.) singled to right before classmate Hayley Baker (Rockwall, Texas) smashed a two-run home run over the right fence to cut the UTM lead in half. Belmont amped up its defensive effort and leaned on strong pitching from rookie Brooklin Lee (Burns, Tenn.) to keep its opponent from scoring additional runs. By the bottom of the sixth inning, the Bruins had posted a pair of runs to knot the score 4-4. The teams remained stalemated through the seventh inning, forcing an eighth frame. UT Martin went on to post two runs in the top of the extra inning but the Bruins were unable to find an answer in their half of the same and went on to fall, 6-4.
In the nightcap, the Skyhawks again took an early lead, going up 5-0 by the middle of the third frame. Belmont would not be able to find an answer until the bottom of the fourth inning. Senior Shersty Stanton (Pinckneyville, Ill.) singled to left before sophomore Jordan Spicer (Hendersonville, Tenn.) knocked her third home run of the season over the left fence to notch a pair of runs. UT Martin fired back in the top of the fifth, adding three more runs, including a home run of its own.
The Bruins hustled to put together a rally in the bottom of the same frame. Freshman Bailey Sims (Flowery Branch, Ga.) reached on a fielder's choice before Stanton singled down the left line and Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.) was walked to load the bases. Spicer singled to left to score a run before the Skyhawks changed pitchers. Junior Lexi Rouse (Macon, Ga.) was hit by a pitch, pushing another run over the plate and cutting the UTM lead in half, 8-4. BU surged once more in the bottom of the seventh inning to try close the gap. Junior Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.) doubled to right and Stanton followed with a singled to left. Deloney used a sacrifice fly to push a run over the plate, closing the differential to three runs, 8-5. However, that was as close as the Bruins would come as they fell by the same score.
For the day, Stanton batted .750 with a pair of runs scored. Baker went 2-for-3 at the plate with her home run in game one.
Inside the circle, four Bruins saw time. Lee went the distance in game one's eight innings with eight strikeouts. In the nightcap, Rouse, sophomore Ashley Johnson (Kingwood, Texas) and freshman Abby Irwin (Nolensville, Tenn.) all made contributions.
Belmont returns to action on Sunday at Rose Park, hosting Southeast Missouri State. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. Live stats will be available.
