NASHVILLE, Tenn. –Belmont Softball (11-3) will put its four-game win streak on the line this week when it hits the road for a Spring Break stretch. The Bruins travel to take on in-state rival Chattanooga (8-11) on Wednesday evening.
The Mocs come into the midweek duel looking to snap a three-game skid that has their record standing at 8-11 overall. UTC is also 5-5 in games hosted at home.
Chattanooga is led at the plate by Emma Sturdivant, who is batting .347 with 17 hits, two doubles, one triple, one homerun and 11 RBI. Aly Walker is batting .340 with 17 hits, four doubles, one homerun and three RBI.
Inside the circle, Celie Hudson has done the lion's share of the work, tossing 60.1 innings after recording 33 strikeouts with 10 complete games and a 3.94 ERA.
Chattanooga owns the all-time series, 9-1. The programs have not faced off since 2012 when the Mocs won, 10-2 in five innings, at the Red & Blue Classic hosted by Ole Miss.
BU heads into this week's road trips fresh off capturing its second consecutive tournament title, this time from its own Bruin Classic, after going 4-1 over the three days. The Bruins now stand at 11-3 on the season.
Belmont has eight batters hitting over .300 and two over .400 in the early season. Sophomore Bailey Sims (Flowery Branch, Ga.) and newcomer Taylor Hargrove (Greenbrier, Tenn.) lead Belmont at the plate, each batting .429. Sims has notched 21 hits, three doubles and five RBI while Hargrove has nine hits and 10 runs scored. Senior Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.) follows, hitting .386 with 17 hits, one triple, three homeruns and 10 RBI.
Inside the circle, sophomore Brooklin Lee (Burns, Tenn.) has seen action in 53.2 innings, recording a whopping 70 strikeouts to the tune of a 1.17 ERA and a 6-1 record. Senior Lexi Rouse (Macon, Ga.) sports a 3-0 record and a 0.91 ERA after tossing 23.0 innings with seven strikeouts.
Several players have distinguished themselves in national statistical categories, led by Sims who is currently tied for first as the hardest to strike out among all NCAA Division I players. Also sporting impressive rankings are Lee, who is No. 7 in shutouts and 30th in strikeouts per seven innings; junior Hayley Baker (Rockwall, Texas) and Sims who are tied for 30th in sacrifice flies; Rouse who is No. 30 in ERA; and junior Chelsea Thomas (Hot Springs, Ark.) who is 32nd in doubles per game.
Wednesday's game is set for 5 p.m. CT. A video broadcast and live stats will be available for the contest.
