HAMMOND, La. – For the second consecutive season, Belmont University Softball opened its campaign with a win. The Bruins (1-0) shutout first-time opponent Nebraska Omaha (3-3), 8-0, to open the SELA Lion Classic II tournament on Friday afternoon. It marked the first time since 2009 BU started the season with a shutout victory.
The consecutive season opening victories was the first for Belmont since the 2008, 2009 campaigns.
The Bruins posted a run in the top of the first inning as junior Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.) crossed the plate behind a fielding error.
Belmont exploded in the top of the third frame, posting four runs. Senior Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.) singled up the middle and classmate Lexi Rouse (Macon, Ga.) followed with a double to put them both in scoring position. Junior Chelsea Thomas (Hot Springs, Ark.) pushed a run across after a wild pitch before freshman Cheyenne Cavanaugh (Spring, Texas) smashed her first collegiate triple deep to left field to adding two more runs. Rookie Elison Ollinger (Robins, Iowa) was hit by a pitch and moved around the bases on a passed ball, lifting BU's run total to five by the bottom of the third.
BU added two more runs in the top of the fifth behind stolen bases by Cavanaugh and junior Taylor Hargrove (Greenbrier, Tenn.), who pinch ran for Thomas, and another in the seventh, thanks to a walk for freshman Georgia McKee (Frisco, Texas) and singles by sophomore Bailey Sims (Flowery Branch, Ga.) and junior Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.) to increase the run advantage to 8-0.
Rouse led the Bruins at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double. Cavanaugh had a strong collegiate debut, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a triple.
Inside the circle, sophomore Brooklin Lee (Burns, Tenn.) fanned 12 batters over seven complete innings.
Belmont returns to action on Saturday for day two of the SELA Lion Classic II. The Bruins face off against Texas A&M Corpus Christi at 11 a.m. and host-Southeastern Louisiana at 1 p.m. Live stats will be available for both contests.
