Summe's walk-off homer helps Knights split with NKU

Bellarmine moves to 24-10, 11-3 GLVC

4/10/2011 5:04:39 PM

By: by Chris Cooper, Sports Information

LOUISVILLE, Ky. --- After dropping the opener 3-0, the Bellarmine University softball team came back with a 4-3 victory thanks to a walk-off homer by Lauren Summe to split the series with the Northern Kentucky Norse on Sunday.

GAME 1
The Knights(24-10, 11-3 GLVC) fell victim to two costly errors in the top of the first that led to two runs by the visitors from Highland Heights.

Those two runs would be all that the Norse (22-11, 12-3 GLVC) would need in game one as NKU's April Ehlers threw a gem from the mound giving up only two hits while striking out 13 on her way to the win.

Northern Kentucky would tack on another run in the fifth, a result of Bellarmine's fourth error of the day, that pushed NKU's lead to 3-0.

Senior Casey Willard threw a solid game of her own as she went the full seven innings only giving up only three hits and striking out seven batters of her own. All three runs given up were unearned.

The loss snaps Bellarmine's ten game winning streak as their last loss was against Rockhurst University back on March 13.

Box Score

GAME 2
NKU struck first in game two as they put up three runs in the third inning thanks to a two run single to left field by Emily Schwaeble. She would score later in the inning to take a 3-0 lead.

Bellarmine got on the board in the fourth as Megan Murdoch hit a towering homer over the left field fence, her GLVC leading ninth of the year.

After getting five innings of work from starter Chelsie Roy, NKU turned back to Ehlers to finish the Knights off. It looked to be the same story as game one as she struck out the first two batters she faced in the sixth inning.

But the story was not the same in the seventh inning as Casey Cleary reached on an error and Cynthia Brown got a single up the middle to start the inning and ignite the home crowd. After Ehlers retired the next two batters the stage was set for Summe's dramatic finish.

With a 2-2 count and fighting off several pitches, Summe drove the ball just over the left field fence for the game winner. It is Summe's ninth homer of the season to tie her with Murdoch for the team and conference high.

Amanda Meyer (8-5) picks up the win for the Knights as she gave up nine hits while striking out three, Ehlers was tagged with the loss going 1.2 innings giving up two hits and three unearned runs.

Box Score

The Knights will hit the road next weekend starting on Saturday with a stop in Kenosha, Wisc. and a doubleheader with Wisconsin-Parkside.

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