LOUISVILLE, Ky.--The Bellarmine University softball team celebrated senior day for two its two graduating seniors by getting a doubleheader sweep over the University of Wisconsin-Parkside this afternoon at Knights Field. Bellarmine won the opener 1-0 in a classic pitchers' duel, and won the finale 7-4 behind a grand slam by senior Emily O'Bryan on what would be her last home at bat as a Knight.
Game one opened as if it were going to be a high scoring affair, but pitching took over as the Knights scored the game's lone run on error in the bottom of the fourth.
In the top of the first, Parkside first two batters laid down perfect bunts, both going for singles. After a pair of fielders' choices and a walk, the Rangers had the bases loaded without hitting the ball out of the infield. However pitcher Casey Willard got out of the jam without allowing a run.
The Knights scored their run as Lauren Summe belted a double to the power alley in right center. Casey Cleary came into pinch run, and Coach Renee Hicks called for batter Megan Murdoch to lay down a sacrifice bunt. The freshman shortstop got down the bunt, which the pitcher fielded cleanly, but then overthrew first base allowing Cleary to scamper home with the winning run.
Willard finished the game allowing just five hits and just one walk to pick up the complete game shutout.
Between games, Bellarmine took time out to honor its senior players Emily O'Bryan and Emma Raver, who have combined to play nearly 400 games for Bellarmine.
Game two looked as if it might also be a low scoring affair, and thanks to Bellarmine right fielder Emma Raver gunning down a runner at home to end the top of the third, the game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth.
With one out, Summe, Murdoch and Jordan Basham all hit singles to make the score 1-0 with runners at first and third. Again Hicks called for the bunt, but designated player Kaitlyn Morley didn't get the bunt down and Paige Wills, who was running for Murdoch, got caught in a rundown and eventually scored when the Ranger first baseman dropped the ball while applying the tag at the plate.
On the play, Basham advanced all the way to third and scored easily when Morley singled. Following the second out of the inning, Angel Zimmerman singled to right, which prompted a Parkside pitching change. Cynthia Brown greeted the new hurler by legging out a bunt single to load the bases. O'Bryan
then stepped in and took an outside pitch to the opposite field and line drive had the distance to clear the fence in right center field for a grand slam to make the score 7-0.
The Rangers made a bit of a comeback in the top of the sixth, plating four runs on three hits and an error. However, pitcher Amanda Meyer mowed down the Parkside batters 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh to close the door on the Rangers and pick up her ninth win of the season.
The Knights improve to 19-29 (10-14 GLVC), while Wisconsin-Parkside falls to 19-15 (10-10 GLVC).
Bellarmine plays its final six games on the road, starting with a doubleheader at Georgetown College on Tuesday. The Knights finish the regular season with double dips at Lewis on Saturday and Illinois-Springfield on Sunday.
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
