Softball 2/23/2023 5:17:00 PM

Softball Is Set to Take Part in the Mercer Bear Invitational

The Bruins are 7-1 Moving into the Weekend

NASHVILLE, Tenn.-- Belmont University Softball is set to head to Macon, Georgia for the Mercer Bear Invitational at Mercer University. At the tournament the Bruins will additionally face Jacksonville University and the University of South Carolina.

What's Bruin

Belmont holds an impressive 7-1 record after the first two weekends of the season
On the weekend the Bruins posted 51 hits, 25 runs, 2 home runs, and ten doubles.
Belmont defeated Lindenwood University twice at the UAB Blazer Bash (7-3 and 4-0)
The Bruins defeated Samford in an exciting ten inning matchup, Nicole Hughes 2 RBI double secured the win
Belmont split the series with UAB winning the first meeting 6-4 then falling in the final game 6-4
Kristen Green posted a .556 average and a .778 slugging percentage on the weekend.
Pitcher Maya Johnson has earned 6 wins to her name to make her third in the nation in wins
Ellie Giles picked up her first career win against Lindenwood for the Bruins first shutout of the season
Johnson was named Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the week after her debut on Tuesday, February 14
Belmont has a blended crew for the 2023 season returning 14 student athletes while adding 8 newcomers
The Bruins earned the sixth spot in the preseason poll announced by the league office January 31
Belmont finished 33-17 last season finding themselves in the Championship matchup against Murray State

Bruin Numbers

Belmont holds the top spot in the MVC in fielding percentage (.987) while second in batting average (.297), home runs per game (1.38), doubles per game (.88), and scoring
Kristen Green leads the Bruins in eight categories including batting average, doubles, RBI, and slugging percentage
Emma Barnes heads Belmont in runs with six
Johnson posts a 0.95 ERA and 41 strikeouts

Scouting Report

Mercer holds a 4-6 record after a competitive beginning of the season
The Bears fell 8-3 to Troy; Belmont defeated Troy in two matchups
Belmont will face former Ohio Valley Conference foe Tennessee Tech to open the weekend
The Bruins swept the Golden Eagles in conference play last season outscoring them 32-10
Belmont will face the University of South Carolina for the first time in program history

New Era

Belmont is entering their first year in the MVC after over a decade in the Ohio Valley Conference
Belmont joins UIC and Murray State as MVC newcomers.
The Bruins have been voted sixth in the MVC preseason poll, receiving one first place vote and 67 voting points from the league coaches
Valparaiso was picked as the preseason favorite
Belmont will compete against Indiana State, Murray State, Southern Illinois, UIC, Illinois State, Missouri State, Valparaiso, Evansville, Drake, and Northern Iowa in the MVC

Mercer Bear Invitational Schedule
Friday, February 24 vs Tennessee Tech at 10 a.m.
Saturday, February 25 vs Jacksonville University at 10 a.m.
Saturday, February 25 at Mercer at 12:30 a.m.
Sunday, February 26 vs South Carolina at 9 a.m.

Follow Belmont Softball on social media - @BelmontSoftball on Twitter and @belmontsoftball on Instagram - for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

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Players Mentioned

#25 Emma Barnes: OF; 5' 3"; Sophomore

#26 Kristen Green: INF; 5' 4"; Sophomore

#18 Nicole Hughes: IF; 5' 11"; Freshman

#21 Ellie Giles: P; 5' 11"; Freshman

#23 Maya Johnson: P; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

#25 Emma Barnes
: 5' 3"; Sophomore
: OF

#26 Kristen Green
: 5' 4"; Sophomore
: INF

#18 Nicole Hughes
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: IF

#21 Ellie Giles
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: P

#23 Maya Johnson
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman
: P