CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Belmont Softball saw its recent win streak snapped on the road this weekend. The Bruins (8-15, 4-10 OVC) dropped its series at in-state foe Austin Peay (13-8, 8-6 OVC) falling 8-0 in the Sunday dual.
The Bruins had an immediate reversal of fortune in the second game of the series that began on Saturday. In the top of the first inning, Belmont plated a run, thanks to a long single to left by Abi Ledbetter (Livingston, Tenn.) that scored sophomore Lauren Veltri (Clarksville, Tenn.) after she was walked. Austin Peay was able to knot the score in its half of the same stanza.
Lightning and heavy rain moved into the area and halted action in the bottom of the second inning, After the break, the teams were able to resume on Sunday afternoon. Austin Peay was up to bat in the bottom of the second inning and unloaded a whopping nine runs to break the 1-1 stalemate from the day before.
In the rubber game, both teams were able to connect but neither could get a run over the plate in the first frame. In the bottom of the second, the Governors were able to score first, using a two-run homer. Austin Peay went on to add an additional run in its half of the third inning to go up, 3-0.
BU continued to plug away but could not get a runner over the plate. The Bruins had a good chance in the top of the fourth when sophomore Kailey Brown (San Antonio, Texas) launched a double to center but the visitors could not bring her around the bases. After being silent in the fourth, APSU went to work in the bottom of the fifth inning. Back-to-back singles and a walk loaded the bases and the Governors moved runners around toward home. A triple and a homerun gave the Govs the 8-0 lead it needed to seal the game.
For the day, senior Alicia Veltri (Clarksville, Tenn.) went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double to lead BU.
Inside the circle, Alicia Veltri, classmate Autumn McDanel (Moravia, Iowa) and freshman Alex Clesi (Mandeville, La.) split time.
Belmont returns to action on Friday to open a three-game series with Eastern Kentucky at E.S. Rose Park. Live stats will be available. Fans may also follow the team's Twitter account (@BelmontSoftball) for live, in-game updates.
