Softball falls to Ole Miss

After defeating Southeastern Conference opponent Mississippi State last month, the Belmont softball team failed notch a second win against a major conference opponent when they lost 10-2 to the Ole Miss Rebels Tuesday afternoon at Rose Park.

“When you get a good team like Ole Miss, they are going to find a way to continue some good at-bats and string some hits together,” Belmont coach Chris Kuhlmeyer said. “When we don’t make those plays to get out of innings, that’s what happens.

Ole Miss got on the board early in the top of the first. Third baseman Allison Brown hit a line drive to left field for an RBI double to bring in RT Cantillo and put the Rebels up 1-0.

After the Rebels got runners on first and second, freshman pitcher Carolyn Snodgress and the Bruins defense forced two quick outs to get Belmont out of the inning and a scoreless second inning.

During the third inning, the Rebels jumped to a 5-0 lead with RBI doubles from Brown and Bri Payne and an RBI single from Natalie Martinez.

With bases loaded and one out though, the Bruins defense forced outs at second and home plate to get out of the inning. Snodgress ended the afternoon with three innings pitched allowing six hits and five runs while striking out three.

In the bottom of the third, the Belmont bats came alive as sophomore Kat Hollingsworth sent a solo home run sailing over the right field wall, her second in back-to-back games.

After Kirbie Ferrell walked and Heather Turner was hit by a pitch, junior Mia Viera hit an RBI single that brought in Ferrell and cut the Rebels lead down 5-2.

“We were starting to get a little more aggressive and swinging it early in the count. A couple of kids put some hits together and their pitcher got a little wild,” Kuhlmeyer said. “That was able to give us some extra runners on base.”

Taylor Moon moved from first base to the pitching circle to replace Snodgrass. The Bruins allowed only one hit and no runs in the fourth inning.

For the remainder of the game, the Bruins struggled to get any offense at the plate while the Rebels continued to score.

In the top of the fifth, pinch runner Melina Preciado scored on fielder’s choice to extend the Rebels lead to 6-2. Another run was scored in the sixth by Brittany Broome after the Bruins were unable to make the play at home plate.

Ole Miss scored three more runs in the final inning to build a 10-2 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Hollingsworth and Ferrell were left stranded as the Bruins dropped to 7-9 on the season.

“We had the opportunity to score more but we didn’t take advantage of it. We have got to do that,” Kuhlmeyer said

Belmont will open conference play this weekend with a double-header against Eastern Kentucky on Saturday. The games will be start at Rose Park at noon.

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