OXFORD, Ala. -- Belmont Softball posted a pair of solid wins on the first day of the Leon Smith Classic, hosted by Southeast Missouri State. The Bruins (16-4) shutout Valparaiso (6-4), 1-0, before going into extra innings to put away Loyola (IL) (14-2), 3-1.
Game one saw the teams locked in a 0-0 stalemate for the first four innings. Finally, in the top of the fifth inning, the Bruins made their move. Freshman Bailey Sims (Flowery Branch, Ga.) singled to right and used a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.) to move into scoring position. Senior Kayla Wells (Bonney Lake, Wash.) drove a double deep to left to score what would become the lone run of the duel against the Crusaders.
The remainder of the contest saw numerous players for both teams left stranded but the Bruins were able to hold on and thwart several Valpo scoring opportunities. Belmont went on to win, 1-0, marking its third shutout of the season.
The nightcap also started slow on the offensive side for both teams but it would be Belmont that would strike first in the run column. In the top of the third, senior Amy Zeronian (Pasadena, Calif.) singled up the middle before Cook notched her second sacrifice bunt of the day to move her into scoring position. Sophomore Hayley Baker (Rockwall, Texas) singled up the middle to score one. BU maintained its one run advantage until the bottom of the sixth when the Ramblers were able to knot the score.
The game remained tied 1-1 through the seventh and forced an eighth inning with the international tiebreaker rule in place. Loyola made a pair of strong plays at the plate to keep the Bruins off the board initially but BU would not be denied. Baker singled up the middle to send the gamewinner of the plate but the hits kept coming. A double by junior Lexi Rouse (Macon, Ga.) added an insurance run to put Belmont ahead, 3-1. The bottom of the eighth inning was all Brooklin Lee (Burns, Tenn.). Despite the placed runner advancing to third base, the freshman pitcher rang up back-to-back strikeouts. The final batter hit the ball right to sophomore Jordan Spicer (Hendersonville, Tenn.) at first base, who made two quick steps to the bag for the last out to secure the 3-1 win.
At the plate for the day, Wells and Baker both batted .429, posting three hits apiece.
Inside the circle, sophomore Ashley Johnson (Kingwood, Texas) and Lee each went the distance in her respective victories. Johnson (4-0) collected her second shutout of the season with four strikeouts while Lee (6-2) rang up seven strikeouts over eight innings of work.
Bruins are back in action at the Leon Smith Classic at 3:30pm on Saturday, taking on Alabama State. Live stats will be available.
