NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Belmont Softball (3-4) picked up its third walk off win in a row to open its doubleheader with Valparaiso (2-4) on Saturday at Rose Park, winning 2-1. However, the Bruins were held off in the nightcap, faling 9-1 in five innings.
BU took a page from its two previous walk off victories in the first contest of the day. After the teams were locked in a 0-0 stalemate for the first five innings, it would be the visitors who woud make a mark on the scoreboard first. After two players reached base, Valpo would use a long single to sneak a run over the plate. Belmont looked to immediately answer back in its half of the sixth but was unable to push a run over home plate. The home team turned on the defensive heat in the top of the seventh to retire the Valparaiso batters in order. The dramatics returned in the bottom of the seventh frame. Sophomore MyKayla Spurlin (Madisonville, Ky.) posted a lead-off single up the middle. The Brown and Gold worked to pick off the lead off runners. With a single batter remaining, Valpo switched pitchers to try to seal the deal. Senior Cheyenne Cavanaugh (Spring, Texas) smacked a triple to left to plate the game winning runs for the 2-1 walk off win.
In the second game, the Brown and Gold jumped out a two-run lead, thanks to a two-run homer, in the top of the second inning and never looked back. Valpo added a single run in the top of third and fourth frames to take a 4-0 lead. The visitors unleashed five runs in its half of the fifth inning to take a staggering 9-0 lead. The Bruins wee determined to not go out without a fight. In BU's half of the same stanza, Cavanaugh sent a double deep to left. Classmate Alicia Veltri (Clarksville, Tenn.) sent a single up the middle that opened the door for Cavanaugh to round the bases to cut into the run differential. Belmont was able to get two more runners on base but were unable to send them home, falling 9-1.
For the day, Cavanaugh batted .571 with four hits, one run scored, two doubles, a triple and a pair of RBI. Fresh off her no hitter, Alicia Veltri notched the win in game one, tallying nine strikeouts over the full seven innings.
Belmont returns to action next weekend at E.S. Rose Park, hosting Jacksonville State for a three-game series.
