CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Belmont University Softball team (39–11, 21–5 MVC) will advance to the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Championship game following Friday afternoon's 4–0 shutout win over Murray State University at Charlotte West Stadium. The Bruins seek their second tournament championship following last year's victory.
For the second straight day, Maya Johnson delivered a historic performance in the circle. The senior tossed another two-hit shutout with 17 strikeouts, matching her tournament career high set in Thursday's game against Illinois State. Johnson has now recorded 34 strikeouts across two tournament games while allowing just four total hits.
Johnson improved to 27–2 on the season while earning her 14th shutout of the year. Belmont also recorded its 18th team shutout this season.
VS Murray State – MVC Tournament Semifinal (4–0)
Belmont wasted no time getting on the board in the opening inning. Emily Konz drew a leadoff walk before Rylee Spindler singled to left field to put two runners on base. After Nicole Hughes advanced both runners with a groundout, Madison Dolecki delivered a two-RBI single to left field to score Konz and Spindler for an early 2–0 advantage.
The Bruins added to the lead in the third inning behind another big swing from Hughes. Spindler reached with a single to left center before Hughes launched a two-run home run to right center field, extending Belmont's lead to 4–0. The homer marked Hughes' eighth of the season, 20th career home run, and gave her 34 RBIs on the year.
Johnson dominated from the start, striking out nine batters through the first three innings alone. She finished the complete-game shutout allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out 17 on 119 pitches.
Spindler continued her standout season at the plate, raising her MVC-leading batting average to .448 after recording two hits in the win. Dolecki added two more RBIs, giving her 33 on the season — nearly double her total of 17 from last year.
Up Next
Belmont will compete in the MVC Tournament Championship game Saturday, May 9 at 1 p.m. CT at Charlotte West Stadium. The Bruins will face either Southern Illinois University, Illinois State University, or Murray State University.
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