LOUISVILLE, Ky. --- After opening their 2012 campaign splitting with Carson-Newman, the Bellarmine University softball team will travel to Daholenga, Georgia this weekend to play four games as part of the North Georgia Loyal Blue Classic, hosted by North Georgia College & State University.

On Saturday, Bellarmine (1-1) will play one game against Tusculum College in the morning before taking on North Greenville in the afternoon. The even wraps up on Sunday as the Knights will again start with Tusculum in the first game, then finishing up taking on No. 3 North Georgia in the finale.

The Knights showed promise in the spilt with Carson-Newman as pitchers Alicia Miller and Amanda Meyer were both stellar, giving up a four earned runs combined while striking out eleven. Miller, a freshman, may have been able to pick up a victory in her first start, but feel victim to errors that led to the Eagles scoring seven runs in fourth.

From the plate, Lauren Summe finished the doubleheader 4-8 from the plate while senior Cynthia Brown and freshman Kelsey Hicks both had a pair of RBIs. As a team, Bellarmine went 15-60 (.316) from the plate and drew eight walks in the two games.

The Pioneers of Tusculum return six starters from last year's team that went 32-17 including preseason All-SAC selections Ashley Burke and Elizabeth Johnson. The Knights and Pioneers split a series last season in Greeneville, Tenn.  as Tusculum won the opener 4-3 before Bellarmine came back and won 14-1. Shortstop Megan Murdoch had a monster series as she went 6-7 that included two home runs, tallying two runs and eight RBIs on the day.

Moving into their first season as a member of Conference Carolinas, North Greeneville is coming off a 23-25 season in which they won the National Christian College Athletic Association National Championship. The Crusaders were picked to finish seventh in Conference Carolinas and should be led by sophomore Rachel Glazebrook.

Coach Hicks will get to measure her young team against a national power in the weekend's final game as they play host North Georgia. The Saints have been ranked in the NFCA Top 5 for the past 31 weeks, dating all the way back to March 11, 2009. Making three straight trips to the College World Series, the Saints feature three preseason All-Peach Belt Conference selections including Katherine Martin, who was a third team All-America selection in 2010. 

Game one against Tusculum is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at North Georgia's Haines and Carolyn Hill Stadium.

Loyal Blue Classic Central