MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Belmont Softball picked up back-to-back victories for the first time in the Megan Smith era on the opening day of the UofM Tournament on Friday. The Bruins (3-11) edged out Youngstown State, 4-3, and blew by Indiana State, 13-5, in six innings.
Belmont came out hot in the bottom of the first inning, loading the bases after back-to-back singles from junior Cheyenne Cavanaugh (Spring, Texas) and freshman Kristen Green (San Antonio, Texas) with a walk for junior Elison Ollinger (Robins, Iowa). However, it would not be until the third frame before a runner for either team would get over the plate.
Back-to-back solo homeruns from Green and senior Brooklin Lee (Burns, Tenn.), who knocked her first of the season, put the Bruins ahead, 2-0. The Penguins knotted the score in the top of the fifth frame, 2-2.
Junior Georgia McKee (Frisco, Texas) sent her first homerun of the season over the scoreboard to put Belmont ahead, 3-2, in the top of the sixth. Belmont's two out rally continued as Lee singled up the middle to add one more run as classmate Bailey Sims (Flowery Branch, Ga.) crossed the plate. Trailing by two runs, 4-2, YSU made one final move in the top of the seventh. A walk and consecutive wild pitches moved a Penguin to third base before a sacrifice fly sent her over the plate, making it a one-run game. Senior Brittany Kennett (Melbourne, Australia) grabbed a pop-up to dash the Youngstown State comeback ideas for good, securing the 4-3 victory.
In the nightcap, Indiana State was first to strike the scoreboard posting three runs in the bottom of the first inning. However, Belmont was able to respond in the top of the next frame. Ollinger singled to left and freshman Molly Porter (Lindenhurst, Ill.) joined her on base with four balls. A Sycamore fielding error helped sophomore Audrey Lyle (Westlake, Ohio) reach first and send one runner home before freshman Abi Ledbetter (Livingston, Tenn.) used a single to notch another run, trimming the run differential to one run, 3-2.
The Bruins remained hot at the plate and exploded for five runs in the top of the third inning. Sims logged a single up the middle, forcing ISU to change pitchers but problems continued to plague their defense. Lee and Ollinger were both hit by pitches, loading the bases. Porter drove a single up the middle, scoring one and keeping the bases loaded. McKee unleashed her first grand slam of the season, posting four runs to expand the Belmont lead to four, 7-3.
Indiana State successfully added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth with the help of a bases-loaded triple. However, the sixth inning would be all Belmont as it cruised to its second win of the day. Porter smashed a homerun and opened the scoring frenzy. McKee doubled and was followed by a single by Lyle. A hard infield single by Ledbetter was enough to send another run over the plate. BU took advantage of numerous errors down the stretch, adding three more runs to take a commanding 13-5 lead. Indiana State looked to avoid the run rule in its half of the seventh but BU refused the let up, retiring three straight batters to seal the win.
Inside the circle, Lee and Kennett combined for five strikeouts in the first game of the day. Junior Autumn McDanel (Moravia, Iowa) went the distance in the second game, finishing with a strikeout.
Belmont returns to action on Saturday for the second day of the UofM Tournament. The Bruins take on Western Carolina at 4:30 p.m. Live stats will be available.
