NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Belmont Softball was able to use a come from behind effort to pull off a win in the doubleheader with Tennessee Tech on Sunday afternoon. The Bruins (26-17, 8-8 OVC) won game one, 4-3, with a walkoff before seeing its late rally fall shy in game two to the Golden Eagles (18-20, 8-8 OVC), 7-5.
After a slow start to the beginning of game one, thanks to a pitchers duel, TTU was first to make a mark on the scoreboard, notching two runs in the top of third frame. Belmont was able to respond, however, putting two of its own across in its half of the same inning. Senior Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.) singled to left and was moved to second base, courtesy of a sacrifice bunt by classmate Cameryn Strother (Chesapeake, Va.). Senior Hayley Baker (Rockwall, Texas) followed with a single of her own to send Cook over the plate. A sacrifice fly by freshman Audrey Lyle (Westlake, Ohio) moved Baker into scoring position before junior Bailey Sims (Flowery Branch, Ga.) sent a ball up the middle to score the tying run for Belmont.
The teams remained stalemated 2-2 until the sixth inning when each was able to post a run, making it a 3-3 ballgame. Tennessee Tech attempted to take the lead in the top of the seventh but the Bruin defense held their opponent up at third base. In Belmont's half of the same inning, Strother was sent to first with a walk to get things started. A well place sacrifice bunt by Baker moved her into scoring position before Lyle drove a single deep up the middle to hand BU the 4-3 walkoff win.
In the nightcap, TTU put across a run in the top of the second inning but Belmont was able to answer back in the bottom of third, tying the game. The Golden Eagles surged once again, this time adding five more runs over the next two innings to take a 6-1 lead. In the BU half of the sixth frame, back-to-back walks for Lyle and Sims opened the door for a double by senior Chelsea Thomas (Hot Springs, Ark.) to send them both over the plate and closing the scoring differential to just three runs, 6-3.
Tennessee Tech notched an insurance run in the top of the seventh but Belmont would not go down without a fight. Sophomore Cheyenne Cavanaugh sent a single screaming to right and Cook followed with her second triple of the season to send her fellow Bruin home. A groundout with a late throw allowed Cook to cross the plate, making it a two-run game, 7-5. Unfortunately, the Bruins were unable to get another run across before the final out and fell by the same score.
For the day, Cook batted .857, going 6-for-7 at the plate with six hits, including one triple and an RBI.
Sophomore Alicia Veltri (Clarksville, Tenn.) went the distance inside the circle in game one, retiring seven batters. Junior Brittany Kennett (Melbourne, Australia), Vetri and freshman Autumn McDanel (Morovia, Iowa) split time in the nightcap, fanning four batters.
Belmont returns to action on Tuesday at E.S. Rose Park, hosting in-state rival Chattanooga for a single game. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. Live stats will be available.
