HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky.--The Bellarmine University softball team lost a pair of 1-run games to Northern Kentucky this afternoon in a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader at Grein Field, falling 3-2 in the opener and 2-1 in Game 2.

The Knights drop to 13-27 (6-12 GLVC) on the season while the Norse improves to 21-10 (12-3 GLVC). 

The day opened well for Bellarmine as leadoff batter Lauren Hanson drew and walk and came around to score on Megan Murdoch's double to give the Knights the early lead.  That lead was short lived, though, as the Norse took advantage of a Bellarmine error and plated two runs in the bottom half of the first.

Murdoch tied the game for Bellarmine with a solo homer to left in the top of the fourth.  The Norse recaptured the lead in the bottom of the sixth with a run on three hits.  

Bellarmine gave itself a chance to made a comeback, but stranded runners on second and third to end the game. 

Amanda Meyer pitched a strong game, but took the loss after allowing just one earned run in the game.

Game two also started well for the Knights as Hanson led off by getting hit by a pitch, then was sacrificed over to second, where she was driven in by Lauren Summe's single.  Again, Bellarmine's lead was short lived as the Norse also scored in the first, knotting the score at 1-1 on a sacrifice fly after a pair of singles.

Northern scored what would be the game's last run in the bottom of the third, rapping out a double and a pair of singles after the first two batters of the inning were retired.

Casey Willard pitched  a complete game for the Knights but took the loss after giving up just two runs on the day.

Summe and Murdoch collected all five of Bellarmine's Game 2 hits.  Summe was a perfect 3-for-3, and Murdoch matched her game 1 performance by going 2-for-3.

Bellarmine returns to action tomorrow, traveling to Indianapolis to take on the Greyounds in a GLVC doubleheader.

BOX SCORE GAME 1

BOX SCORE GAME 2