DAHLONEGA, Ga. --- The Bellarmine University softball team had two tight games to close out the Loyal Blue Classic on Sunday as they defeated Tusculum College 4-3 in game one of the day before falling to No. 3 North Georgia 4-2 in the second game.

With the conclusion of the classic, Bellarmine's record now stands at 4-2 on the year.

Game 1: Bellarmine 4 Tusculum 3

After shutting down the Tusculum offense on Saturday, Bellarmine had to work for the W on Sunday as the Knights would struggle from the plate to begin the game. The Pioneer's Kaytlin Stroinski would retire the first nine batters she faced.

In the third inning, Tusculum would plate three runs, all unearned after an errant throw by Megan Murdoch kept the inning alive. With runners on second and third, left fielder Ashley Burke would find the gap in left center to bring home two runs. Katie Brennan would move Burke to third on the next play then allow her to steal home as part of a double-steal.

The Knights would get those three runs back and more in the top of the fourth. Freshman Kalya Padgett took a 3-2 pitch from Stroinski and riffled it down the right field line for a double, eventually advancing to third on a sac bunt by Erin Sireno. After Lauren Summe drew a four pitch walk, Murdoch would bring both of them home on a double to right center.

Later in the inning, junior Madi Ratliff and freshman Kelsey Hicks would both pick up RBIs to put Bellarmine ahead for good, 4-3.

Senior Amanda Meyer (3-0) picked up the win after going 4.1 innings of relief work, giving up two hits and striking out six. After the impressive start, Stroinski (0-1) was given the loss as the Knights tagged her for four runs over 3.1 innings.

Box Score

Game 2: No. 3 North Georgia 4 Bellarmine 2

After three games that could be considered the undercard for Bellarmine, the main event was a true heavyweight bout between two talented foes. The third ranked Saints landed the first punch as Sarah Johnson led the game off with a double and scored on the next at bat as Rochelle Shuman hit a single into right field.

North Georgia would lead off the fourth inning with another double, this time by Hilary Cox. Pilar Harden would bring her across the plate after she tripled to the right center gap. The damage could have been worse but the Knights buckled down on the next two at bats. First Cynthia Brown held Harden at third after she caught a fly ball in shallow center field, then Ratliff threw Harden out at home on a slow grounder to third to keep the deficit at 2-0.

Harden would strike again though as she homered with a runner on in the sixth inning to extend North Georgia's lead to 4-0.

Bellarmine would not go quietly though as they would mount a rally in the bottom of the sixth. Sireno would draw a four pitch walk with two outs, advancing to second on Summe's single. Murdoch would then single to center field to bring Sireno home all the way from second.

Ratliff would bring Summe home on her single, forcing the Saints to pull starter Melissa Dickie in favor of last year's Ron Lentz National Pitcher of the Year, Jessica Coan. The senior would make quick work of Hicks, a freshman, striking her out on three pitches to end the rally.

After walking Scarlett Powers in the seventh, Coan would get two strikeouts to end the game as No. 3 North Georgia would hold on for the 4-2 victory.

Meyer (3-1) and Alicia Miller would split time pitching for the Knights with Meyer being tagged for the loss. Dickie (1-0) would earn the win for the Saints.

Box Score

Bellarmine will have another long road trip next weekend as they head to Hunstville, Alabama where they will play six games over three days as part of the Charger Chillout hosted be Alabama-Hunstville.