NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Belmont Softball battled strong winds, rain and a tough opponent on Saturday afternoon to open Ohio Valley Conference play. The Bruins (19-6, 0-2 OVC) dropped a pair of back and forth battles to visiting Eastern Illinois (22-8, 2-0 OVC), 3-2 in extra innings and 11-8.
BU posted the first run of the opening contest in the bottom of the first frame, thanks to a sac fly by junior Chelsea Thomas (Hot Springs, Ark.) and held on to the one-run advantage over the next four complete innings. The Panthers notched a run in the top of both the sixth and seventh innings to take the lead but the Bruins rallied in the bottom of the seventh, scoring a tying run. The teams remained stalemated through the eighth inning. EIU went on to add what would become the gamewinner in the top of the ninth and held Belmont silent in its half of the same frame to hold on for the narrow 3-2 win.
The nightcap was a complete back and forth battle for the first two innings after the Bruins tallied three runs in the bottom of both the first and second innings. Senior Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.) smashed a homerun over the left fence to net two runs while junior Hayley Baker (Rockwall, Texas) added a third with a sacrfice fly in the first frame. EIU exploded in the top of the second, recording five runs and followed with two more in the top of third inning to take the lead, 8-6.
The Bruins rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the score, 8-8, after a singles by senior Lexi Rouse (Macon, Ga.) and Baker sent runs over the plate. The stalemate was short lived as the Panthers unloaded three runs again in the top of the seventh. BU was able to get runners on base but could not make a dent in the deficit and fell, 11-8.
For the day, Rouse led the team at the plate, going 5-for-6, hitting .833 with a double.
Inside the circle, sophomore Brooklin Lee (Burns, Tenn.) went the distance in game one, logging nine strikeouts. In the nightcap, Rouse and freshman Alicia Veltri (Clarksville, Tenn.) split time, combining for two strikeouts.
Belmont returns to action on Sunday afternoon at Rose Park. The Bruins host SIUE for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Live stats will be available.
