Softball Set to Host Indiana State for a Weekend Series

NASHVILLE, Tenn.-- Belmont University Softball is set to continue their homestand with a three game series against the Indiana State Sycamores beginning Friday, April 14 at 5 p.m. CT. 

All games will be played at E.S. Rose Park. Saturday's matchup will be streamed on ESPN3. Listen live on the Bruin Sports Network on for Friday and Sunday's meetings. 

What's Bruin 

• The Bruins hold a 21-15 record moving into the week after sweeping the University of Illinois Chicago in a three game series and falling 1-0 to Murray State in 10 innings
• Against the Racers Maya Johnson posted 20 strikeouts to become the only player in Division I with two 20 strikeout games to her name 
• Belmont defeated UIC 2-0 in nine innings in the first matchup on a RBI double from Baie Ensio and a run scored on an error
• In the second meeting Belmont defeated the flames 7-0 for their seventh shutout of the season, seven Bruins produced hits on the day for nine total 
• The Bruins recorded 15 hits against the Flames in the final win of the weekend, 9-2
• Brenna Blume went 3-4 in the last game while Emma Barnes, Emily Cockrill, Kristen Green, Abi Ledbetter, and Baie Ensio each posted 2 hits on the day 
• Emma Summers picked up two wins over the weekend with 11 strikeouts, with 8 strikeouts coming from her complete game and no walks recorded and a perfect ERA
• Maya Johnson also picked up a perfect ERA pitching seven innings in the first matchup with 11 strikeouts and one walk
• Belmont claimed victory over the Lady Hilltoppers in a 2-0 win 
• Maya Johnson was named Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the week after an impressive weekend in the circle
• In one game Johnson pitched a program record of 22 strikeouts against the Purple Aces in her nine innings pitched in the first game of the series
• At 22 Johnson holds the most strikeouts in a single game this season in Division I
• Johnson earned a selected top performance from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. 
• The Bruins are 7-6 in MVC play with a sweep over UIC, two wins over Southern Illinois and a win against Illinois State and Evansville 
• The Bruins took the series from the Salukis with Emily Cockrill's walk-off homerun in a 4-3 victory 
• In the 4-1 win over Illinois State Maya Johnson earned her 100th strikeout of the season
• Johnson reached this accolade in just 15 appearances in the circle in 69 innings
• Johnson was named Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the week after her debut on Tuesday, February 14 
• The Bruins earned the sixth spot in the preseason poll announced by the Missouri Valley Conference office January 31 
• Belmont finished 33-17 last season finding themselves in the Championship matchup against Murray State

Bruin Numbers 

• The Bruins rank first in the MVC in the strikeout-to-walk ratio, ninth in the nation (4.43) 
• Johnson holds the top spot in the MVC, fourth in the nation in strikeouts (191) and strikeouts per seven innings (11.4) 
• Kristen Green heads the Bruins offensively with a .340 batting average, with 36 hits, seven doubles, three home runs
• Blume leads the Bruins in home runs and RBI at 22
• Ensio, Hughes, and Blume have started in each game for Belmont

Scouting Report 

• Indiana State holds a 19-20 record on the season while 8-6 in conference play 
• Isabella Henning posts a .398 batting average with 45 hits for the Sycamores, second best in the MVC
• Kennedy Shade tallies a .340 batting average also proving to be a force at the plate with 33 hits
• Lexi Benko leads the Sycamores defense with a 2.43 ERA with 64 strikeouts to her name

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

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.