NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- With a doubleheader sweep on Saturday, Belmont Softball punched its first ticket to postseason play in the program's Division I history. The Bruins (34-20, 10-12 OVC) breezed by crosstown rival Tennessee State (12-37, 2-19 OVC), 7-2 and 12-1, to earn a spot in the 2017 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.
In game one, BU posted a pair of runs in the bottom of the first frame, thanks to a double by junior Lexi Rouse (Macon, Ga.) and a single up the middle by sophomore Jordan Spicer (Hendersonville, Tenn.). The Tigers fired back in the top of the third inning, knotting the score 2-2, after capitalizing on an untimely error. The teams remained stalemated for the next inning and a half before Belmont exploded offensively.
In the bottom of the fifth, freshman Bailey Sims (Flowery Branch, Ga.) opened with a double down the right line that was followed by a bunt by sophomore Hayley Baker (Rockwall, Texas). A sacrifice fly by Rouse sent one over the plate before the Bruins loaded the bases with a base on balls opportunity for senior Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.) and a fielder's choice for junior Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.) after a squeeze play at home. Spicer unleashed a three-run home run over the left fence that expanded BU's lead to 6-2. Belmont picked up one more run in the bottom of the following inning behind a double to left by sophomore Baylee Cook (Lewisburg, Tenn.) and a single by Baker. Tennessee State remained silent offensively for the remainder of the game, handing BU the 7-2 win.
The Bruins scored again first in the nightcap, adding a run in the bottom of the first frame using a single by Cook, a sacrifice bunt by Sims and a single to left by Baker. It was only a hint of what was coming for the Bruins. Belmont posted a whopping 10 runs in the bottom of the second inning, putting the contest out of reach for TSU. BU batted around the order one and a half times during the scoring frenzy. The Bruins went on to add another run in the bottom of the third inning, using a sacrifice fly by Deloney. The Tigers had no answer offensively or defensively for the red-hot Bruins as Belmont cruised to the 12-1 victory.
For the day, Baker went 4-for-6 with three runs, two doubles and two RBI. Senior Amy Zeronian (Pasadena, Calif.) went 2-for-3 with two runs, one triple and two RBI.
Inside the circle, freshman Brooklin Lee (Burns, Tenn.) continued to shine, logging 11 strikeouts in game one as she broke the program record for all-time single season strikeouts. Sophomore Ashley Johnson (Kingwood, Texas) went the distance in game two, recording five strikeouts.
No. 8 Belmont will take on No. 1 seeded Jacksonville State on Wednesday, May 10 at 5:30 p.m. in the first round of the OVC Tournament at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala.
