Softball Set to Host the Battle of the Boulevard

NASHVILLE, Tenn.-- Belmont University Softball is set to host this year's Battle of the Boulevard against the Lipscomb Bisons Wednesday, April 19 at E.S. Rose Park. 

First pitch is scheduled to go out at 6 p.m. CT and will be streamed on ESPN+. 

What's Bruin 

• The Bruins hold a 22-17 record while 8-8 in conference play moving into the week 
• Belmont went 1-3 on the week with a 2-1 win over Indiana State in the middle of the series
• Emily Cockrill posted the game tying home run for her fourth of the season
• Nicole Hughes posted the go-ahead RBI single to defeat the Sycamores 2-1 
• Emma Summers pitched a complete game against the Sycamores for her ninth win of the season.
• 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 fell 1-0 in the contest in 11 innings.
• The Bruins earned their first sweep of the year over the UIC Flames 
• 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
• Emma Summers picked up two wins over the Flames 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 
• 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 to earn Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the week 
• 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 8-8in MVC play with a sweep over UIC, two wins over Southern Illinois and a win against Illinois State, Evansville, and Indiana State
• 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 (4.20) 
• Johnson holds the top spot in the MVC, fourth in the nation in strikeouts (199) and strikeouts per seven innings (11.2) 
• Kristen Green heads the Bruins offensively in batting average (.336) and slugging percentage (.474)
• Emily Cockrill leads the Bruins in hits (41), total bases (61) for a .318 batting average
• Blume leads the Bruins in home runs with five and RBI at 22
• Ensio, Hughes, and Blume have started in each game for Belmont

Scouting Report 

• The Lipscomb Bisons hold a 17-23 record on the season while 7-8 in the ASUN Conference
• Presley Leebrick leads the Bisons with a .316 batting average with 36 hits and seven doubles to her name 
• Kamrie Rich holds the top spot on the Bisons in RBI (19), homeruns (3), with 27 hits
• Emily Yakubowski has seen the most time in the circle with a 2.43 ERA in 26 appearances and 21 starts for 89 strikeouts
• The Battle of the Boulevard is a long standing tradition amongst the schools, Lipscomb holds the overall record against the Bruins 24-6
• In their last meeting 2021 the Bruins defeated the Bisons 5-1

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

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