Softball to Host Lipscomb in Battle of the Boulevard

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Belmont University Softball Program (32-12, 16-5 MVC) will host Lipscomb (20-26, 7-11 ASUN) in the Battle of the Boulevard on Tuesday at 4 p.m. CT. 
 
What's Bruin

• The Bruins enter the week after picking up their sixth MVC series win of the season after topping Valparaiso 2-1.
• Belmont is 16-7 in non-conference play this season.
• The pitching staff is led by Maya Johnson who owns a 20-3 record in the circle and averages a 1.11 ERA. Johnson has compiled 281 strikeouts this season.
• The pitcher leads the conference and NCAA in strikeouts with the next closest player 43 strikeouts away. Johnson also leads the MVC and NCAA in strikeout-to-walk ratio (20.08), strikeouts per seven innings (12.4), and shutouts (10). 
• Johnson's win on Sunday broke the all-time career wins record for the program (47). Sunday's performance also pushed Johnson past 700 career strikeouts. 
• The Bruins average a .277 team batting average while holding opponents to a .220 average.
• Belmont has four players batting above .300 (Rylee Spindler - .359, Nicole Hughes - .348, Baie Ensio - .366, Maddy Balsiger - .323).
• Emily Cockrill leads the team in RBIs (34).
• Brenna Blume leads Belmont with four home runs this season.
• Belmont was ranked 12th in the recent D1Softball Mid-Major Rankings.

About the Bison

• Belmont has won the past three Battle of the Boulevard match ups with Lipscomb.
• Lipscomb enters the week on a four-game losing streak.
• The Bison have picked up wins over fellow MVC members Bradley and UNI earlier this season.
• The Bison average a .261 team batting average while holding opponents to a .300 average.
• Alyssa Hastings leads the team with a .408 batting average after compiling 37 runs, 58 hits, and 36 RBI this season.
• Lipscomb averages a team ERA of 4.97.
• Laine Barefoot leads the Bison pitching staff with a 3.71 ERA and an 11-12 record in the circle. The pitcher has tallied 70 strikeouts this season.

Follow Along
Follow live stats on belmontbruins.com.
 
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