MURRAY, Ky. – Belmont Softball was able to gut out a crucial win in its quest to earn the program's first-ever OVC Tournament berth on the road Wednesday. The Bruins (32-20, 8-12 OVC) knocked off Murray State (34-14, 10-6 OVC), 6-2, in a makeup game for the teams who were rained out of completing a doubleheader earlier this season.
After a silent first inning for both teams, Murray State would be the first to make a mark on the scoreboard, posting a single run in the bottom of the second and third frames. The Bruins were unable to record a hit until the top of the fourth when sophomore Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.) knocked a single to left. Freshman Bailey Sims (Flowery Branch, Ga.) followed with a single down the left line before sophomore Hayley Baker (Rockwall, Texas) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the pair into scoring position. Senior Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.) drilled a double to centerfield fence to send the pair over the plate, knotting the score, 2-2.
BU repeated the hot hitting feat in the top of the fifth. Sophomore Jordan Spicer (Hendersonville, Tenn.) go things started with a single up the middle before being moved to second with a sacrifice bunt by senior Shersty Stanton (Pinckneyville, Ill.). Freshman Brooklin Lee (Burns, Tenn.) hit a hard single and sophomore Sami Long (Springfield, Ill.), who was in to pinch run for Spicer, beat out the throw to third, putting runners on the corners. Cook sent a ball screaming toward the third baseman but it went between her legs, allowing a run to score. Sims laid down a perfect bunt to load the bases before Baker hit the ball to second base for an out but not before a run score to increase the Bruins lead to 4-2.
An insurance run would cross the plate in the top of the sixth inning for Belmont after keeping the Racers silent at the plate for two consecutive innings. Deloney reached first base on four balls and junior Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.) smacked a hard single to shortstop. A sacrifice bunt by Spicer moved the runners into scoring position before a sacrifice fly by Stanton sent her classmate over the plate to put Belmont ahead, 6-2. The bottom of the same frame, Lee walked the first batter before recording three consecutive strikeouts to close the inning. Murray State was unable to add additional runs in its final half inning and the Bruins were able to hold on for the win by the same score.
Leading the team at the plate was Sims, who went 3-for-4 on the day with two runs scored. Deloney led with two RBI.
Lee went the distance inside the circle, logging six strikeouts bringing her season total of 161. Her tally is just eight shy of matching the program's all-time record for single season strikeouts.
Belmont returns to action on Friday, May 5 at E.S. Rose Park for its regular season finale. The Bruins host crosstown rival Tennessee State for a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. Live stats will be available.
