NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - After a winning back-to-back games for the first time all season last week against Southeast Missouri State, Belmont was unable to repeat that feat in the midweek double-header against Western Kentucky. The Bruins fell in the first game, 1-3, and in the second game, 1-9. The losses dropped Belmont to 7-18 on the season and 0-28 against WKU.
The Bruins battled hard in game one, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Belmont out-hit Western Kentucky, 7-6, but was only able to score run, leaving eight runners on base and committing one error. The Bruins were led offensively by freshman Mia Vierra and junior Cassie Bollin with two hits each. Bollin scored a timely hit in the top of the seventh inning with a single to the short stop. She advanced to second on a pass ball and moved to third on junior Hannah Irwin's groundout. The Bruins were unable to score Bollin with two outs in the inning and the game ended. Belmont was led defensively once again by sophomore pitcher Devon Schmidt. Schmidt struck out six batters in six innings of work and surrendered only two earned runs. The loss dropped Schmidt to 6-7 on the season.
One big inning was the difference in game two, as Western Kentucky scored six runs in the bottom of the third inning. All six runs were unearned. The Bruins scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the top of the fourth inning after sophomore Becca Gift singled to left field and senior Kelley Cash singled to third base. WKU scored their final two runs in the bottom of the fifth to end the game.
The next home action for Belmont is a March 31st meeting with Samford in the season opener at Rose Park. The Bruins will open Atlantic Sun play with a road trip to conference-leading USC Upstate and Eastern Tennessee State. Belmont will take on USC Upstate in a double header on Friday, March 25th, with the first game beginning at 4 p.m. EST. The Bruins will face ETSU on Saturday, March 26th, with the first game beginning at 12 p.m. EST.
