HUNTSVILLE, Ala. --- It was a tough opening day of the Charger Chillout for the Bellarmine University softball team, as they dropped two games losing to No. 2 Alabama-Huntsville 5-1 in the opening game, then falling 3-0 to Palm Beach Atlantic in game two of the day.

The loss drops Bellarmine to an even 4-4 on the year.

Game 1: No. 2 Alabama-Huntsville 5 Bellarmine 1

The first game of the day for Bellarmine was a pitcher's duel as Amanda Meyer and UAH's Whitney Toler were both outstanding in the first four innings. Each pitcher had only allowed one hit apiece, striking out a combined six batters in the first four innings.

Meyer was not able to keep the Charger offense, which has already scored 10 or more runs four times this season, quiet for long. In the fifth inning, Alabama-Hunstville would plate three runs including two on a base clearing triple by Kelli Long.

Bellarmine would get back one of those runs in the top of the sixth as Kayla Padgett would bring home Kelsey Hicks for the Knights' only run of the game. The host Chargers would add a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning, including a solo homer by Stephanie Needham.

After a valiant effort to hold down the Chargers, Meyer (3-2) takes the loss giving up five runs on nine hits while striking out three. Toler earned the win for UAH and finished with seven strikeouts.

Box Score

Game 2: Palm Beach Atlantic 3 Bellarmine 0

The Sailfish would score three runs in the bottom half of the first and it would be all the offense they needed. Erica Walters would knock a two run double to center field, eventually scoring later in the inning.

Meanwhile, junior Mary Pippin shut down the Bellarmine offense in the first five innings, giving up just one hit and one walk while striking out seven.

The Knights would rattle Pippin in the sixth, getting runners on first and third with one out, but the veteran senior would strikeout Kaitlyn Morley then force Lauren Summe into a groundout. Bellarmine again had a chance in the seventh, with runners on first and third with two outs, but a groundout by Padgett would end the game.

Alicia Miller (1-2) would be tagged with the loss giving up three runs over 6.0 innings of work. After a shaky first inning, the freshman buckled down, giving up only four hits and zero walks during the final five innings.

Box Score

Bellarmine returns to action for day two of the Charger Chillout, taking on Florida Institute of Technology and West Alabama.