Belmont Set to Host the SIU Salukis for Conference Series

NASHVILLE, Tenn.-- Belmont University Softball is set to host their second conference weekend beginning Friday, March 24 against the Southern Illinois University Salukis. 

Belmont now holds a 14-11 record after dropping a midweek meeting 3-2 to Missouri Valley Conference opponent Murray State in a competitive 9 inning matchup. 

Weekend Schedule Belmont vs SIU
Friday, March 24 at 5 p.m. CT 
Saturday, March 25 at 2 p.m. CT
Sunday, March 26 at 12 p.m. CT

All games will be played at E.S. Rose Park and live audio play by play will be streamed on the Bruin Sports Network. 

What's Bruin

• Belmont fell to the Racers 3-2, Maya Johnson posted 9 strikeouts, Emma summers added 2 in the matchup 
• On the day, Belmont recorded 2 runs, 7 hits, and 1 error
• Abi Ledbetter posted two singles to lead the Bruins in hits 
• The Bruins went 1-1 against the Illinois State Redbirds, the rubber match was canceled due to cold temperatures in the Nashville area
• In the 4-1 win over the Redbirds Maya Johnson earned her 100th strikeout of the season
• Johnson reached this accolade in just 15 appearances in the circle in 69 innings
• Belmont fell 4-2 in the second competitive matchup, the Bruins posted 7 hits on the day 
• Earlier in the week the Bruins fell 10-6 to the Hoosiers in a competitive matchup
• Emily Cockrill posted a .500 batting average after going 5-10 on the week with two doubles, and three RBI for a .700 slugging percentage
• Brenna Blume posted a .400 batting average on the week with four hits for a double, triple, and a homerun for a 1.00 slugging percentage 
• 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 Missouri Valley Conference office January 31 
• Belmont finished 33-17 last season finding themselves in the Championship matchup against Murray State

Bruin Numbers 

• Johnson now has 120 strikeouts to her name on the season with a 2.21 ERA and nine victories 
• Baie Ensio, Nicole Hughes, and Brenna Blume have started in each of the 25 games for the Bruins this season 
• Cockrill leads the Bruins with 26 hits while Baie Ensio has 25 hits is to her name 
• Blume posts 16 RBI on the season for the most as a Bruin
• Kristen Green heads the Bruins in batting average (.358) and total bases (32)

Scouting Report

• The Salukis post an impressive 22-3 record on the season
• SIU swept Valparaiso in the first conference weekend
• The Salukis were picked third in the MVC Preseason Poll
• Emma Austin posts a .500 batting average with 6 triples 
• Madi Eberli tallies a 1.45 ERA with 8 wins her name this season so far

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

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