NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Belmont softball couldn't overcome a big hitting effort from Eastern Kentucky (11-12) Sunday afternoon as the Bruins dropped a pair of contests to the Colonels, 10-0, 4-1. EKU went long a combined four times, tallying six runs, over the two contests.
GAME 1: EKU 10, Belmont 0 (5 inn.)
Eastern Kentucky tallied runs in four of the five innings and used a big effort from starting pitcher Leanna Pittsenbarger as the Colonels made short work of the Bruins in the first game of the conference opening doubleheader at Rose Park.
EKU tallied 12 hits on the contest, including a pair of home runs as sophomore Amber Murray hit a solo shot to left field to begin the second inning and senior Katie Tacket wen long on a two run blast to left center field in the top of the fourth.
Pittsenbarger had a tremendous effort in the circle for the visitors from Richmond, Kentucky, as the veteran held BU to just one hit in five innings of action while striking out seven Bruins on the contest.
BU's Kayla Wells (Bonney Lake, Wash.) was the only Bruins to record a hit as the sophomore broke up Pittsenbarger's no hitter attempt with a single center field in the third inning.
GAME 2: EKU 4, Belmont 1
Belmont recovered in the nightcap as the Bruins hung tough with the Colonels through most of the contest.
The power of the long ball proved to be the difference in the contest as three of EKU's four runs came curtesy of big hits.
With the Bruins trailing 1-0 after an inning of play, the Colonels used a solo blast from freshman Johnkyria Alston in the second inning and a two-run shot to center field from Paige Murphy in the fourth to pull ahead, 4-0.
The Bruins got on the board for the first time of the day as a double from Jordan Daly (Humble, Tex.) in the home half of the fourth drove in Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.).
The Bruins couldn't find enough offense the rest of the way as Belmont recorded just two hits over the next three as EKU captured the sweep on the day with a 4-1 victory.
Daly led the offense for the Bruins as the junior finished 2-for-3 at the plate, with a pair of doubles.
Belmont (5-13) returns to action this Tuesday as the Bruins travel to Memphis for a doubleheader with the Tigers. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. CT.
