Softball Set to Compete in the Tennessee Classic

NASHVILLE, Tenn.-- Belmont University Softball is set to head to the Tennessee Classic at the University of Tennessee to face the Lady Volunteers along with Appalachian State and Jacksonville State. 

Belmont is now 9-3 after splitting the weekend 2-2. The Bruins produced twenty-one runs on twenty four hits, 3 home runs, and nineteen RBI at the Mercer Bear Classic. 
 
What's Bruin 

• The Bruins opened the weekend with a 12-2 win over Tennessee Tech
• Belmont also defeated Mercer University 5-1 led by Baie Ensio's performance at the plate. Belmont fell 5-4 in a competitive matchup against South Carolina 
• Brenna Blume blasted a 3 run homer to take a 4-1 lead over the Gamecocks
• Two Mercer home runs were the difference in the 2-0 loss to the Dolphins
• Ellie Giles and Emma Summers each posted a win for the Bruins in the circle
• Summers earned her first win of the season against Mercer
• Maya Johnson was named Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the week after her debut on Tuesday, February 14 
• 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

Bruin Numbers 

• Kristen Green continues to head the Bruins in batting average (.368), RBI (9), and total bases (21)
• Baie Ensio has an impressive start at the plate with fourteen hits and twelve runs
• Belmont ranks fifth in the nation in fielding percentage at .988
• The Bruins pitching leads the MVC in the strikeout to walk ratio 
• Maya Johnson heads the MVC in strikeouts with 56 and victories at 6

Scouting Report

• Host team Tennessee is ranked national at #6 with their 11-1 record 
• Mackenzie Donihoo and the Lady Volunteers lead the country in doubles while Kiki Milloy ranks amongst the top on the nation in runs per game
• The Lady Volunteers have defeated #4 Clemson, #22 Northwestern
• Jacksonville State holds a 10-4 record moving into the weekend
• The Gamecocks' Lindsey Richardson posts an impressive fourteen hits and fourteen RBI
• Appalachian State also holds a great record at 9-3
• Pitcher Delani Buckner heads the Sun Belt Conference in ERA at 0.64
• Kayt Houston leads the Mountaineers at the plate with eighteen hits and 9 runs

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

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.

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