NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Belmont University softball team dropped its first game of its Ohio Valley Conference series to UT Martin 7-6 in 11 innings on Sunday at Rose Park.
UT Martin led 7-3 after six innings in game two of Sunday's doubleheader, but the game was halted due to a metro mandated curfew for Rose Park at 9:50 p.m. The game will resume in the top of the seventh inning starting at 1 p.m. on Monday.
Sophomores Kailey Brown and Abi Ledbetter led the Bruins in game one with three hits each, with Brown collecting a pair of RBIs. Freshman Alex Clesi led the Bruins with five strikeouts in nine innings pitched in the circle while UT Martin's Alexis Groet struck out 10 Belmont batters in seven innings pitched, earning the win in the process.
After a leadoff single in the top of the third inning, UT Martin hit a two-run home run to strike first. Belmont responded in the next half-inning, with Brown hitting an RBI single and sophomore Lauren Veltri hitting a sacrifice fly to bring in the tying run.
The Skyhawks regained the lead in the top of the fifth inning off a Belmont fielding error, but the Bruins used four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to retake the advantage. Senior Cheyenne Cavanaugh scored off an RBI single from Brown after hitting a leadoff triple, where Veltri hit a two-RBI single to right field two at-bats later to keep the run rally going. Junior Audrey Lyle hit an RBI double to right field in the next at-bat, giving the Bruins a 6-3 lead.
UT Martin responded with a two-RBI double in the top of the sixth inning and an RBI single in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game, stranding two Belmont runners in the bottom of the seventh inning to force extra innings.
Following three consecutive scoreless innings, UT Martin broke the scoring drought with a solo home run in the top of the 11th inning to give the Skyhawks the 7-6 lead. UT Martin forced Belmont into a three up, three down bottom of the 11th inning to clinch the game one win.
UT Martin took a seven-run lead in game two and Belmont cut the deficit to four runs heading into the top of the seventh inning. That's when Belmont and UT Martin were informed of the Rose Park 9:50 p.m. curfew, forcing action to be halted until Monday afternoon.
Play from game two will resume at 1 p.m. at Rose Park on Monday, with game three of the series to follow. Live stats and ESPN+ will be available to fans courtesy of Belmont Athletics.
