Softball Splits Saturday Double Header against Southern Illinois

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--  Belmont University Softball splits Saturday double header against Southern Illinois. The Bruins fell 2-5 in the first matchup of the day while claiming a 8-5 victory in the second meeting.

The Bruins ended the Salukis 8 game winning streak with the second win of the day and gave Southern Illinois their first loss in the Missouri Valley Conference. 

Kristen Green posted 2 home runs both for 2 RBI in the 8-5 win for the Bruins. Maya Johnson completed her 

The Bruins posted 10 runs on 12 hits for the day with twelve strikeouts from the Bruins' pitching staff.

Tomorrow's rubber match will take place at 12 p.m. CT at E.S. Rose Park. 

How it Happened Game 1 
Pitcher Ellie Giles started the game off strong for the Bruins with a swinging strikeout.

Southern Illinois' Rylie Hamilton posted the first RBI hit of the day for 2 RBI and a double for herself. 

The Salukis added another in the second inning with runners in the corners, Maya Johnson chose the easy out at first but Sidney Jones was able to score after her triple earlier in the inning. Bailey Caylor reached on a walk and was brought home by Aubree DeProns' RBI single. 

Brenna Blume sent out the first home run of the day to put the Bruins on the board in the fifth. 

Southern Illinois added extra insurance in the 7th and a sacrifice fly. 

In an attempt to come back Abi Ledbetter sent out a RBI single to finalize the 5-2 score. 

How it Happened Game 2
A homerun affair took place during the second meeting of the day. Belmont pulled through with a 8-5 win after the Salukis tied the game 5-5 in the fourth inning. 

Belmont, looking for revenge, scored first to take their first lead of the day on Kathryn Flowers' RBI single. 
Kristen Green added insurance with a 2 RBI shot to the Nashville skyline to go up 3-0 over the Salukis. 

The Salukis felt the heat and countered to take the lead with 3 home runs in the fourth inning. 2 home runs for 2 RBI from Jackie Lis and Anna Carder and a solo home run from Sidney Jones to go up 5-3 over the Bruins. 

After two walks to start the fourth inning for Kailey Brown and Kaley Varner, Kathryn Flowers came in clutch with a 2 RBI double to even the game 5-5.

Nicole Hughes led off the sixth with a solo home run. Emily Cockrill walked to set up Green for her second 2 RBI home run of the game to go up 8-5 over the Salukis. 

Southern Illinois was unable to produce in the seventh, giving the Bruins their fifteenth win of the season. 

Maya Johnson held the defense strong and produced 9 strikeouts to earn her tenth win of the season.

Up Next: The Bruins will take on the Salukis for the rubber match of the series Sunday, March 26 at 2 p.m. at E.S. Rose Park. 

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