NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The 1999 party continued on Wednesday evening for Belmont Softball. The Bruins (27-9) picked up just its sixth win in program history over Middle Tennessee State (12-20), 6-1, in a Midstate showdown at Rose Park.
The victory marked the first time since 1999 Belmont has recorded 27 wins in a single season.
BU put a run on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first frame, courtesy of a single by freshman Bailey Sims (Flowery Branch, Ga.), and never looked back. The Bruins held on to their one run advantage until the bottom of the sixth inning where it put the game wholly out of reach for the Blue Raiders after packing on five more runs.
Belmont saw junior Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.) and sophomore Haley Baker (Rockwall, Texas) reach behind an error and a long single before sophomore Jordan Spicer (Hendersonville, Tenn.) singled up the middle to send them both over the plate. Even with a pair of pitching changes, MTSU could do little to cool the Bruin bats. With bases loaded both senior Kayla Wells (Bonney Lake, Wash.) and classmate Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.) walked in consecutive runs. Sims added another single to her day's tally, scoring two more runs to put BU on top, 6-0, by the end of the flurry.
The Blue Raiders did manage to rally and plate a run in the top of the seventh but strong pitching by freshman Brooklin Lee (Burns, Tenn.) helped shut down the effort and secure the 6-1 victory.
Six different Bruins scored runs in the win. Sophomore Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.) and Spicer and Sims each recorded two hits apiece.
Lee went the distance inside the circle, recording her 100th strikeout after collecting eight against the Blue Raiders.
Belmont returns to action on Saturday, April 8 at E.S. Rose Park for a conference doubleheader with Jacksonville State. First pitch is slated for Noon. Live stats and a broadcast on the OVC Digital Network will be available for both games.
