NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Belmont Softball (13-36, 7-19 OVC) rode a strong effort from senior pitcher Brittanie Albright in the first game of the Sunday doubleheader as the Bruins split with Tennessee State (18-38, 6-20 OVC) on the day; 5-2, 3-5.
Game 1: Belmont 5, TSU 2
TSU started the day's scoring off in the second inning as the Tigers used a sacrifice fly to centerfield in order to drive in a run.
Over the following three and a half innings, Belmont notched three unanswered runs as the Bruins took a comfortable, 3-1, advantage over the Tigers.
RBI singles from Heather Turner (Rosenburg, Tex.) in the second and Jessica Wilson (Alvin, Tex.) in the fifth and an RBI triple from Kat Hollingsworth (Carrollton, Tex.) in the third inning highlighted Belmont's offensive push.
TSU inched closer in the top of the sixth off an RBI single to right field form Kate Morris as the Tigers drew to within a single run, 3-2.
The Bruins used a wild play to seperate themselves in the home half of the sixth inning.
BU's Kirbie Ferrell (Pasadena, Tex.) singled to shortstop with two Bruins on base. A throwing error by TSU allowed Kayla Wells (Bonney Lake, Wash.) to cross home plate while Kim Johnson (Tuscon, Ariz.) also found home on the sequence.
The three-run advantage was all Belmont needed as starting BU pitcher Brittanie Albright (Franklin, Tenn.) finished the Tigers off in the seventh inning.
Albright (3-7) had a good Senior Day on the mound for Belmont as the right-hander threw a complete game, allowing two runs off three hits.
Three Bruins went 2-for-3 on the contest as Ferrell, Hollingsworth, and Wilson all finished with a pair of hits on three at-bats while knocking in a run.
Hollingsworth's triple was her fourth of the season.
Game 2: TSU 5, Belmont 3
Belmont jumped out to the early advantage in the day's second contest as the Bruins went ahead, 3-0, through the first three innings.
RBI doubles from Hollingsworth and Turner in the first and third innings propelled BU to the early lead.
Tennessee State rallied, however, as the Tigers scored five unanswered runs over the next two innings as TSU took the 5-3 advantage.
Belmont failed to capitalize on a couple of good chances to draw closer as the Bruins stranded a pair of base runners in both the fifth and sixth innings.
TSU went on to earn the split on the day and capture the series with the Tigers prevailed, 5-3, in the final game of the 2014 season for both squads.
Kirbie Ferrell and Jessica Wilson led Belmont offensively in the nightcap as Ferrell finished 2-for-3 while Wilson finished 2-for-4.
