NASHVILLE – Indiana State softball defeated Belmont 7-3 on Sunday afternoon at E.S. Rose Park to clinch a series victory over the Bruins
 
The Sycamores (21-21, 10-7) collected 10 hits in the contest while Belmont (22-17, 8-8) had six on the afternoon.
 
The Action
Both starters in Sunday's contest, Maya Johnson and Lexi Benko, worked scoreless first and second innings as just two baserunners reached safely in the frames.
 
Leading off the top of the third, Kaylee Barrett singled to left for the Sycamores first baserunner of the game. Abi Chipps then reached on an infield single to have runners on first and second. After Olivia Patton reached on a fielder's choice, Danielle Henning delivered with a RBI double to right field to put Indiana State up 1-0. Belmont was able to strand Henning and Patton on base and escape with limited damage. Lexi Benko navigated around a bunt single and a walk in the bottom of the third to keep the Bruins off of the scoreboard.
 
In the top of the fourth, Kennedy Shade sent the first pitch of the inning over the wall in centerfield to put ISU up 2-0. Cassie Thomerson then reached on a hit-by-pitch and moved to second on a TeAnn Bringle sacrifice bunt. Kaylee Barrett drew a walk followed by an Abi Chipps lineout for the second out of the frame. Thomerson and Barrett got to second and third on a double steal and would then be joined by Olivia Patton who walked to load the bases. Danielle Henning made it a 3-0 game with an infield single, driving in Thomerson. Next up was Isabella Henning who cleared the bases with a double to left center, scoring Danielle, Patton and Barrett to extend the lead to 6-0. Benko struck out a pair of hitters in the bottom half for another scoreless frame.
 
After a Belmont pitching change to start the fifth, TeAnn Bringle put the 10^th hit on the board for the Sycamores with a double to left field but that would be all for ISU in the inning. Belmont would get on the board in the bottom of the fifth, getting a run on a RBI single up the middle. Benko recorded her fourth strikeout to end the frame.
 
Annie Tokarek would get the Sycamores a run back in the sixth, hitting a RBI single to right field to score Chipps which made it 7-1. The Bruins would make it a 7-3 game in the bottom half, scoring two runs on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout.
 
Cassi Newbanks would come on for ISU in the bottom of the seventh, setting Belmont down in order to give the Sycamores a 7-3 win and clinch the series victory. Lexi Benko improves to 10-6 on the season with the win.
 
Eight different Sycamores collected a hit in the win, including two each from TeAnn Bringle and Danielle Henning. Shade's home run in the fourth inning was her third of the season.
 
Up Next
The Sycamores head to Indianapolis on Wednesday, April 19 for a midweek matchup at Butler at 4 p.m. ET.
 
For the latest information on Sycamore Softball, be sure to visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.