NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The rain wasn't the only thing coming down on Saturday at E.S. Rose Park. Belmont Softball unloaded a whopping 27 hits on crosstown rival Tennessee State en route to picking up a pair of wins. The Bruins (18-30, 10-10 OVC) knocked off the Tigers (10-42, 3-20 OVC), 11-6, in game one and recorded a 12-0 five inning blowout in the night cap. The win improves BU to 10-10 in league play, the most OVC wins for the team since joining the OVC.
Game One
The Tigers struck first putting across runs in both the first and the second inning before Belmont was able to answer back in the bottom of the third. Back to-back singles by sophomore Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.) and classmate Lexi Rouse (Macon, Ga.) opened the door for a long single to left by junior Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.) to send one over the plate.
BU kept the TSU bats silent in the top of the fourth before it unloaded in the bottom of the same, putting across seven runs aided by a grand slam by Deloney and RBI singles by junior Amy Zeronian (Pasadena, Calif.), freshman Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.) and senior Jordan Daly (Humble, Texas).
Tennessee State fired back, trimming BU's lead down to three runs, 7-4, in the top of the fifth with the help of a three-run home run. However, Belmont's bats remained hot adding three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Singles by Daly and Deloney picked up one run before senior Jess Wilson (Alvin, Texas) smashed her sixth home run of the season. The Tigers struggled to play catch up in the top of the seventh but the Bruin defense stranded three runners after only scoring one run, handing Belmont the 11-6 victory.
Game Two
The nightcap was all Belmont from the first pitch. The Bruins only allowed two Tennessee State hits in the entire contest. BU put across five runs on six hits, including another Deloney homer, in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back.
The Bruins exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the third inning, following behind singles by Wilson and Andree and a double by Zeronian. Freshmen Hayley Baker (Rockwall, Texas) and Cook singled and added Belmont's eighth and ninth runs as Tennessee State was forced to change pitchers. However, BU's hitting streak continued as a double by Deloney and sacrifice fly by Wilson scored three more runs to secure the 12-0 win.
Daly was perfect at the plate, going 4-for-4. Wilson went 4-for-5 with two home runs while Deloney went 4-for-6 with a pair of homers and a whopping nine RBI. Zeronian also went 4-for-6.
Inside the circle, senior Taylor Moon picked up the win in game one while classmate Shelby Willard went the distance in the second game and finished with three strikeouts.
The finale of the three-game series is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. at Rose Park. Prior to the first pitch, a ceremony will be held to honor seniors Jordan Daly, Taylor Moon, Carolyn Snodgress, Shelby Willard and Jess Wilson.
Live stats will be available. Fans may also follow the team's Twitter account (@BelmontSoftball) for in-game updates.
