Murray State’s run at the 2017 OVC Softball Championship came to an end Friday with a 5-1 loss to Belmont at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama.
Belmont had a big first inning that began with a Baylee Cook single, which was then compounded by a Racer error in the next at bat. With one out, Lexi Rouse and Chelsey Deloney drove in one run each on a single and double, respectively, to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first, Kaylee Ranburger got the offense going for Murray State (35-18) with a single. Jessica Twaddle and Jocelynn Rodgers then loaded the bases when Twaddle walked and Rodgers singled. One batter later, Taylor Odom cut the deficit in half at 2-1 by drawing a bases-loaded walk.
In the third, Belmont (35-21) added to the lead on Deloney’s second double of the game after Hayley Baker walked and Rouse singled to begin the frame. Later in the inning, Kayla Wells singled up the middle with the bases loaded to extend Belmont’s lead to 4-1.
The Bruins tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Deloney tallied her third hit of the game, a home run that made it 5-1. From the third inning on, Belmont pitcher Brooklin Lee allowed just one base runner, a double from Taylor Odom, as the Bruins held on for the 5-1 win.
Belmont pounded out 11 hits in the game and limited Murray State’s chances by allowing only three hits. Lee got the win for the Bruins by allowing just one run on three hits with four strikeouts and three walks over a complete game effort.
For Murray State, Mason Robinson (23-9) took the loss by giving up four runs, three of which were earned, on seven hits with a walk over two complete innings. Haven Campbell was solid in relief for the Racers and gave up just one run on four hits with a strikeout and two walks over the final five innings.
by Parker Griffith