CARBONDALE, Ill.-- Belmont University Softball dropped a 4-3 decision to host Southern Illinois in the semifinal round of the Missouri Valley Conference Softball Championship.
In a game full of momentum swings, the Salukis were able to advance on a walk-off home run by Elizabeth Warwick.
The Bruins fought valiantly in their third game in as many days, coming within an eyelash of a second consecutive conference championship game appearance.
Belmont struck early in the bottom of the third. Abi Ledbetter and Emily Cockrill singled to put two on base for team RBI leader, Brenna Blume.
Blume delivered a two RBI single to the wall to provide Maya Johnson a working margin.
Johnson, who shined in relief in Thursday night's marathon victory over Missouri State, threw four-plus innings and kept the Salukis at bay.
Belmont was one strike away from getting out of a jam in the bottom of the fifth, before Southern Illinois capitalized for three unearned runs to take the lead.
After threatening to score in sixth, Belmont got a lift from pinch hitter
Kailey Brown to lead off the seventh inning.
An opposite field blast to the left center field wall yielded a double and sparked a rally.
Ledbetter hit a sharp grounder into right field to score pinch runner Ally Turner and tie the score, 3-3.
With Belmont pitching warrior Emma Summers on the mound in the bottom half of the frame, Warwick lifted a low, inside pitch over the right field wall as the Salukis advanced to Saturday's championship final.
Belmont finishes the season with a record of 29-24 after a second consecutive conference tournament run.
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