NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Belmont Softball recaptured its Rose Park walk off win magic in game one on Sunday at Rose Park. The Bruins (4-7, 1-2 OVC) came from behind to win the first contest, 4-3, but were held off, 5-2, in the nightcap by Jacksonville State (3-8, 2-1 OVC).
The opening game of the day both teams were silent for the first two innings. The Gamecocks used a triple and a sac fly to post its first run of the duel. Belmont was quick to answer back in its half of the same frame. Sophomore MyKayla Spurlin (Madisonviille, Ky.) reached base on four balls before senior Alicia Veltri (Clarksville, Tenn.) knocked a double to left and picked up an extra base to send her home, knotting the score. The 1-1 stalemate remained steady for two innings before JSU was able to make a move in the top of the sixth inning. Jacksonville State used a solo homerun and double to add two more runs. BU answered back in the bottom of the seventh, as it had three times before. Senior Georgia McKee (Frisco, Texas) was hit by a pitch and was joined on base by sophomore Kailey Brown (San Antonio, Texas) and senior Cheyenne Cavanaugh (Spring, Texas). Spurlin was hit by a pitch to push a run over the plate. Sophomore Abi Ledbetter (Livingston, Tenn.) launched a double to left center to add the winning runs and seal the 4-3 victory.
In the rubber match, BU was the first to put a runner of the plate, thanks to a Cavanaugh sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second inning. Jacksonville State exploded over the fourth and fifth frames, posting a total of five runs. The Bruins attempted to rally in the bottom of the fifth, in hopes of logging another come from behind win. Junior Audrey Lyle (Westlake, Ohio) notched a leadoff single and was joined on base by Spurlin, who was walked again. A wild pitch moved the pair into scoring position before a sac fly from Alicia Veltri proved enough to push a run over the plate. The home team was unable to score again and fell, 5-2.
For the day, Cavanaugh, and sophomores Lauren Veltri (Clarksville, Tenn.) and BRown led the BU at the plate, each batting .400. Ledbetter posted a pair of doubles and two RBI.
Inside the circle, four Bruins took a turn. Freshman Alex Clesi (Mandeville, La.) logged a strikeout. Senior Autumn McDanel (Moravia, Iowa) notched the win in game one.
Belmont returns to action on Wednesday, March 10 with the annual Battle of the Boulevard matchup with Lipscomb. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
