CHICAGO, Ill. – The Belmont University Softball Program (30-10, 14-3 MVC) secured their third-straight MVC series win as they topped UIC (6-35, 2-14 MVC) Saturday afternoon 11-10.
How it Happened
Ellie Giles got the start in the circle on Saturday in her hometown. The pitcher recorded her first strikeout of the day to keep UIC scoreless after the first.
Maddy Balsiger led off the top of the second with a home run to left for the Bruins. Emily Cockrill later drove in a huge 3 RBI double before Grace Gressly would record an RBI of her own. Belmont took an early 5-0 lead heading into the third.
Neither team could plate a run in the third leaving Belmont ahead by five.
The Bruins’ offense had another impressive inning in the fourth adding four runs on five hits. Baie Ensio got Belmont started with a single. Gressly then added her second RBI of the day to bring Ensio home. Freshman duo Madison Dolecki and Balsiger added to Belmont’s run with a pair of RBIs. The Bruins took a commanding 9-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth.
The Flames went on to add four runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut into the Bruins’ lead at 9-4.
Belmont added a run in the fifth off another RBI from Gressly. UIC made a five-run comeback in the bottom of the inning to bring the game within one at 10-9.
Lauren Luciani tallied an RBI single to give the Bruins their 11th run of the day in the top of the sixth.
UIC went on to add a run in the bottom of the sixth, but Belmont held on to claim an 11-10 win.
Up Next
The Bruins will conclude the weekend series against UIC on Sunday at 12 p.m. CT. Follow live stats on belmontbruins.com or watch 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.
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