BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Two early Bradley errors helped Belmont jump out to a 7-0 lead after two innings, but senior Madeline Lynch-Crumrine (Sedro-Woolley, Wash./Sedro-Woolley) held the Bruins hitless the final five frames and delivered a three-run, go-ahead homer in the sixth to cap a 3-for-4 day at the plate to help the Braves rally for an 8-7 victory Saturday morning to open the Hilltopper Spring Fling.

Belmont (4-6 overall) got all of its offense in the second inning, taking advantage of two BU errors in the frame in addition to collecting five hits to push across seven runs.  Lynch-Crumrine settled down later in the game, allowing just two Bruins to reach base in the final five innings and also highlighted Bradley's offensive attack with a single, triple and homer as she scored two runs and drove in four. 

Senior Brianne Joseph (Post Falls, Idaho/Post Falls) led off the bottom of the third with a bunt single and fellow senior Bailiegh Basham (Mattoon, Ill./Mattoon/Lake Land C.C.) drew one of her three walks in the contest to put runners at first and second.  After a wild pitch advanced the runners one base, senior Marina Groenewegen (Surrey, British Columbia/Elgin Park Secondary/Southern Idaho) drove in Bradley's first run of the game with a sacrifice fly.  Lynch-Crumrine later plated Basham from third with a single to right center as the Braves (3-8 overall) trimmed the Bruins lead to 7-2.

Senior Alex Chandler (Needles, Calif./Needles), who went 2-for-3 with a home run, led off the bottom of the fourth with her third double of the season and later scored on a groundout by Joseph to cut the deficit to four (7-3).

Lynch-Crumrine pitched around a leadoff walk in the fifth and opened the bottom half of the frame with a triple.  She scored on a single by junior Alyson Clemente (Murrieta, Calif./Murrieta Valley) and it was a two-run game (7-5) after Chandler belted a solo homer to right field.  The home run was 12th of Chandler's career, moving her into a tie for ninth in career home runs at Bradley and she is now the only player in school history to rank in the top 10 at Bradley in career homers, walks and stolen bases.

Belmont had the leadoff hitter on again in the top of the sixth, but Lynch-Crumrine got out of the jam unscathed and provided the game-winning hit in the bottom of the inning.  Freshman Kelly Kapp (Freeburg, Ill./Gibault Catholic) had a pinch-hit single to open the inning and Basham drew another base on balls.  With two outs in the frame, Lynch-Crumrine ripped a 2-2 pitch over the fence in center field for a three-run homer to give Bradley an 8-7 lead. 

Lynch-Crumrine retired Belmont in order in the top of the seventh to close out the victory as she improved to 2-4 on the year with the win.  She surrendered three earned runs and struck out one in the complete game effort. 

Taylor Moon took the loss for Belmont, dropping to 1-3 with the setback.  She gave up five runs on five hits in two and one-third innings out of the bullpen.

Basham's three walks pushed her career base on balls total to 68, one short of matching the school career record of 69 held by Julie Jehle (1993-96). 

Bradley returns to action later today (5 p.m.) against Canisius at the Hilltop Spring Fling.