After overcoming a six-run deficit, the Belmont softball team fell to the late-scoring Marshall Thundering Herd 11-7 at Rose Park Tuesday afternoon.
Four final-inning runs sealed the Marshall win after the Bruins scored six runs in two innings to tie the game at one point.
Marshall was on the board early with a RBIs from a sacrifice fly from Rebecca Gamby and a single by Jazmine Valle. The Thundering Herd extended their lead to 6-0 by the top of the third.
In the bottom of the third, Belmont’s rally began when Ashley Hammer scored the Bruins’ first run after a sacrifice fly by Amanda Buntin.
Momentum swung even further in Belmont’s direction in the fourth inning after Heather Turner ripped a three-run homer, cutting Marshall’s lead to 7-4. It was her second home run of the season.
“Heather has been doing a lot better job making adjustments at the plate especially with two strikes,” said head coach Chris Kuhlmeyer. “She came through and hit the ball the way she’s capable of. She can do that on day in and day out basis and hopefully that will be a big confidence boost for her.”
The Bruins’ comeback continued in the fifth inning as their bats came alive with three more hits. After singles by Mia Verra and Kirbie Ferrell, junior Hannah Irwin bunted Verra to the plate, and Irwin continued to second base after a Marshall error.
After that, freshman Kat Hollingsworth hit a fly ball to center field to send Ferrell and Irwin home to tie the game at seven.
After a scoreless sixth inning, Marshall was able to load the bases on Belmont errors and took the lead on a bases-loaded walk that brought Alysia Hively home. The Thundering Herd had two more hits in the seventh and final inning and went to win the game 11-7.
Despite the loss, Kuhlmeyer said this game was an improvement for the whole team.
“I keep preaching to the team even though the wins haven’t quite been there we have been improving every single week, getting better and making adjustments,” Kuhlmeyer said. “As long as we keep doing the little things right and getting better, we’re going to be going toe to toe with a lot more teams.”
Becca Gift pitched in the Bruins’ loss, and she is now 3-11 for the season. The Bruins, 5-20 on the season, will return to action on the road against Tennessee Tech Thursday afternoon.
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