NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Belmont University Softball team (15–7, 2–1) secured its first Missouri Valley Conference series win of the season Saturday morning with an 8–0 run-rule victory in five innings over UIC at E.S. Rose Park.
Maya Johnson delivered a five-inning no-hitter, striking out nine batters to improve to 10–1 on the season.
VS UIC (8–0, 5 inn.)
Belmont came out hot in the first inning as Madison Dolecki launched a three-run home run, scoring Nicole Hughes and Rylee Spindler to give the Bruins an early 3–0 advantage. The homer marked Dolecki's second of the weekend.
The Bruins added another run in the second inning when Spindler tripled to center field, driving in Lydia Vanderwoude to extend the lead to 4–0.
Belmont continued to apply pressure in the fourth. Dolecki drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Ella Bertucci, before Emily Konz delivered a two-RBI single to left field that scored Dolecki and Hughes, pushing the margin to 7–0.
The Bruins sealed the run-rule victory in the fifth when Anna Caskey doubled to right center to plate Lizzie Ozim for her first career RBI, ending the game at 8–0.
Johnson dominated throughout the game, retiring all 16 batters she faced while striking out nine in the no-hit performance.
On the bases, Belmont stayed aggressive with stolen bases from Vanderwoude, Spindler, Konz (two), and Ozim.
Up Next
Belmont returns to Rose Park for its second weekend of Missouri Valley Conference play, hosting University of Evansville. The Bruins and Purple Aces will meet in a doubleheader Friday, March 13 at 1 p.m. CT, followed by a single game Saturday. The games will be available via live stats on gobelmontbruins.com and streamed on ESPN+.
Follow Belmont softball on social media — @BelmontSoftball on Twitter, @belmontsoftball on Instagram, and Belmont Bruins Softball on Facebook — for complete coverage. Stay up to date with all Belmont athletics through the official Belmont Bruins app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
