Softball Heads to the UAB Blazer Bash

NASHVILLE, Tenn.-- Belmont University Softball anticipates another exciting weekend at the University of Alabama Blazer Bash. The Bruins will take on UAB, Samford University, and Lindenwood University. 

Belmont went undefeated during opening weekend with 2 wins over Troy University and another over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. 

What's Bruin 

• Freshman pitcher Maya Johnson was named Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the week after her debut 
• Johnson pitched twelve innings to earn each of the Bruins 3 wins opening weekend with a 0.58 ERA, eighteen strikeouts, and 5 walks
• Belmont has a blended crew for the 2023 season returning 14 student athletes while adding 8 newcomers
• The Bruins earned the sixth spot in the preseason poll announced by the league office January 31 
• Belmont finished 33-17 last season finding themselves in the Championship matchup against Murray State
• The Bruins took the Racers into the necessary game of the championship falling just short of the title with a 5-2 result

Bruin Numbers 

• Kaley Varner leads the Bruins with two home runs to her name while Kristen Green, Brenna Blume, and Nicole Hughes each have one to their name. 
• The Bruins produced nineteen hits and seventeen runs opening weekend
• Varner leads in batting average (.500) and slugging percentage (1.500) 
• After opening weekend, Belmont ranks first in the MVC in home runs per game, scoring, and win/loss percentage
• Johnson leads the MVC in strikeouts with eighteen

Scouting Report

• UAB holds a 2-3 record after opening weekend with wins over Texas Southern University and Idaho State University 
• UAB finished the 2022 season 25-24 landing fourth in the C-USA West
• Samford opened last weekend with a win over Seton Hall and 2 losses to Southern Mississippi
• Pitcher McKenzie Newcomb was named the SoCon Preseason Pitcher of the Year while Samford has been named the preseason favorites for the SoCon
• Lindenwood went 1-4 opening weekend the University of Louisiana-Monroe tournament 
• This is Lindenwood's first year in Division I as they entered into the OVC

New Era

• Belmont is entering their first year in the MVC after over a decade in the Ohio Valley Conference
• Belmont joins UIC and Murray State as MVC newcomers. 
• The Bruins have been voted sixth in the MVC preseason poll, receiving one first place vote and 67 voting points from the league coaches
• Valparaiso was picked as the preseason favorite
• Belmont will compete against Indiana State, Murray State, Southern Illinois, UIC, Illinois State, Missouri State, Valparaiso, Evansville, Drake, and Northern Iowa in the MVC

Blazer Bash Schedule 
Friday, February 17 at UAB 2 p.m.
Friday, February 17 vs Lindenwood 4 p.m.
Saturday, February 18 vs Lindenwood 10 a.m.
Saturday, February 18 vs Samford 2 p.m. 
Sunday, February 19 vs UAB 12 p.m.

Follow Belmont Softball on social media - @BelmontSoftball on Twitter and @belmontsoftball on Instagram - for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.