DES MOINES, Iowa – The Belmont University Softball program (38-14) claimed an 8-3 win over Bradley (25-30) in the 2025 MVC Tournament Quarterfinals on Thursday evening.
How it Happened
Belmont got on the board early with a run in the first.
Baie Ensio led off the inning with a single and later stole second.
Emma Barnes would bring Ensio home off an RBI sacrifice fly to put the Bruins up 1-0 heading into the second.
Ellie Giles got the start in the circle and caught two-straight batters swinging in the top of the second. Belmont stayed ahead by one after two innings of play.
Bradley recorded three runs in the top of the third to take the lead. Belmont responded with five runs in the bottom of the inning to reclaim the lead at 6-3. The Bruins' third inning push was capped off with a 3 RBI home run by
Brenna Blume.
The Bruins built off their offensive momentum in the fourth.
Nicole Hughes got things going with a double to left center.
Grace Gressly then drove in an RBI off a sacrifice fly to extend Belmont's lead by four heading into the fifth.
Belmont's offense continued to stay hot in the bottom of the fifth.
Emily Cockrill led off the inning with a single to left.
Maddy Balsiger followed with a single of her own before Blume was walked to load the bases with Bruins.
Rylee Spindler later drove in the eighth run of the day for Belmont off an RBI single to right. The Bruins headed into the sixth up 8-3.
Both teams faced a one-two-three inning in the sixth.
The Bruins held on to top the Braves 8-3 to advance to the team's second MVC Tournament Semifinal in program history.
Up Next
The Bruins will face no. 3 Northern Iowa in the MVC Tournament Semifinals on Friday at 4 p.m. CT. Follow live stats on belmontbruins.com or watch live on ESPN+.
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