NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Powered by some heavy hitting and a strong defensive effort, Belmont Softball breezed by Fort Wayne on Saturday afternoon at E.S. Rose Park. The Bruins (6-2) knocked off the Mastodons (6-7), 4-1, on day two of the Belmont/TSU Winter Warmup to extend their current win streak to five games.
BU posted a pair of runs in the bottom of the first frame and never looked back. After loading the bases, thanks to singles by sophomore Bailey Sims (Flowery Branch, Ga.) and junior Chelsea Thomas (Hot Springs, Ark.) that sandwiched a base on balls for senior Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.), junior Hayley Baker (Rockwall, Texas) unloaded a single deep to right to score one run and freshman Elison Ollinger (Robins, Iowa) was hit by a pitch to push another runner over the plate.
Belmont held onto its two-run advantage until the bottom of the fifth inning when it added a pair of insurance runs. A double by Thomas sent Sims and junior Taylor Hargrove (Greenbrier, Tenn.) over the plate to extend the lead to 4-0.
The Mastodons were finally able to make an effective offensive move in the top of the following inning, plating their lone run of the contest behind the momentum of a Bruin error. However, the rally went ice cold as Belmont clamped down again on both sides of the ball for the remainder of the game. Fort Wayne was able to get a runner on base but freshman pitcher Alicia Veltri (Clarksville, Tenn.) notched a strikeout and grabbed a hard liner for the final two outs of the game, sealing the 4-1 victory for BU.
Thomas and Sims led the Bruins at the plate, each going 2-for-3. Sims also plated a pair of runs while Thomas netted two RBI.
Veltri picked up her first collegiate win, going the distance inside the circle with four strikeouts.
BU returns to action on Sunday for the final day of the Belmont/TSU Winter Warmup at Rose Park. The Bruins face off against Fort Wayne once again with first pitch slated for 12:15 p.m. Live stats will be available.
