NORMAL, Ill. – The Belmont University Softball Program (22-8, 6-1 MVC) took on Illinois State (7-22, 1-4 MVC) in a doubleheader on Friday to open the weekend. The Bruins took game one 2-1 in 10 innings before falling 5-6 in game two.
Game 1 (2-1, 10 inn.)
Belmont's offense started to warm up in the top of the second.
Emily Cockrill led off the inning with a double to left center.
Rylee Spindler followed with an RBI double to give the Bruins an early 1-0 lead heading into the third.
Illinois State responded with a run in the bottom of the third to even the score at 1-1.
After a pair of walks and a single from Spindler, the Bruins had bases loaded in the top of the fourth. Despite the action on the bases, Belmont was unable to bring anyone home leaving the score tied heading into the fifth.
The Redbirds threatened to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth after getting two runners on base. The Bruins were able to regroup and record two more outs to keep the game knotted at 1-1 after six.
Both teams saw a one-two-three inning in the seventh.
Defense for both teams continued to step up as the score remained 1-1 heading into the tenth inning.
Emma Barnes recorded a huge home run to give the Bruins an edge at 2-1 heading into the bottom of the inning. The home run marked the first of the season of Barnes.
Maya Johnson took over in the circle and tallied three-straight strikeouts to secure a 2-1 win for Belmont.
Game 2 (5-6)
The Bruins seemed to pick up right where they left off adding two quick runs in the top of the second. The early run featured a single from
Brenna Blume, an RBI from
Madison Dolecki, and an RBI sacrifice fly by Barnes. Belmont took an early 2-0 lead heading into the third.
Belmont continued to pour it on offensively in the third. E. Cockrill led off the inning with a single followed by another single from Spindler. Blume would add an RBI sacrifice fly before
Maddy Balsiger recorded an RBI of her own. The Bruins added three runs off four hits to extend the lead to 5-0 heading into the fourth.
Both teams went three up, three down in the fourth as Belmont held a five-point lead heading into the fifth.
Illinois State threatened with a single and two runners reaching base in the bottom of the fifth. Belmont's defense stepped up to keep the Redbirds scoreless.
Maddy Balsiger added another single through the left side in the top of the sixth but was unable to reach home. The Redbirds went on to add two runs in the bottom of the inning to close the gap at 5-2 heading into the final inning.
Delaney Bryant hit a 3 RBI home run in the bottom of the seventh for the Redbirds as the Bruins fell just short 5-6 in game two.
Up Next
The Bruins will look to take the series in the weekend finale on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT. Follow live stats on belmontbruins.com or stream live on ESPN+.
Follow Belmont softball on social media -
@BelmontSoftball on Twitter,
@belmontsoftball on Instagram and
Belmont Bruins Softball on Facebook - 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.
#ItsBruinTime
