LOUISVILLE, Ky. ---Behind three home runs from junior Madi Ratliff, the Bellarmine University softball team split a doubleheader with Ashland University on Saturday dropping game one, 7-3, before rallying to win the finale, 7-2.

On a chilly day where snow flurries came and went, both teams sit at an even .500 on the year as Bellarmine's record stands at 6-6 while Ashland moves to 1-1.

Game 1: Ashland 7 Bellarmine 3
The home standing Knights were their own worst enemy in the opener as two errors and two wild pitches did most of the damage.

In the third inning, Cynthia Brown found the gap in left center and the speedy centerfielder motored all the way to third with just one out. However, Bellarmine would not be able to capitalize as Ashland's Emlyn Knerem would ring up freshman Kayla Padgett then get Erin Sireno to pop up harmlessly to get out of the jam unscathed.

The visiting Eagles plated three runs in the top of the fourth inning thanks in large part to back-to-back wild pitches by Bellarmine's Alicia Miller. The freshman from Alexandria, Ky., redeemed herself though, throwing out Carly Clark to end the inning.

Ratliff helped Bellarmine climb back in the game in the bottom of the fourth as she sent a towering two-run shot over the center field fence to bring the score to 3-2 in favor of Ashland.

But the Eagles responded with four runs in the fifth including Frankie Gironda's three run shot off Amanda Meyer to stretch the lead to 7-2. Ratliff homered again in the bottom of the seventh, but it was not enough as Ashland won 7-3.

In addition to their own mistakes, Bellarmine had trouble figuring out Knerem (1-0) as she threw six innings, giving up two runs while registering 10 strikeouts, McKenna Galloway picked up the save for the Eagles. Miller (1-4) went 4.0 innings, striking out five in the losing effort.

Box Score

Game 2: Bellarmine 7 Ashland 2
In game two, Bellarmine jumped on Ashland freshman pitcher Amber McDermott early and often. In the first, Sireno started things off with a double to left center, followed by Lauren Summe drawing a walk to put runners on first and second with one out. Megan Murdoch then hammered her third home run of the season over the center field fence to drive in three.

Following Murdoch's homer, Ratliff went yard for the third time on the day down the left line for the 4-0 lead. Learning their lesson, Ashland would intentionally walk Ratliff in her next two at-bats. 

After a home run by Ashland in the top of the second, Kelsey Hicks led off the bottom half of the inning with a walk, advancing to second on a successful bunt by Brown. Padgett advanced both on a sacrifice bunt, and Hicks and Brown scored on a sac fly to center off the bat of Sireno.

The game became tense in the bottom of the seventh as Ashland did not go down without a fight. With the score at 7-2, the Eagles put runners on first and second with just one out. Freshman Jerrica Young appeared to find the gap in left center, but Brown made a diving catch worthy of ESPN's Sportscenter's Top Plays of the Day to hold the runners.

Ashland's Kaely Stucin drew a walk to load the bases with two out, but Meyer got pinch hitter Lauren Yelling to look at strike three to end the game.

Meyer (5-2) continues her impressive start to the season, giving up two runs on four hits over 7.0 innings of work and striking out three. McDermott took the loss for the Eagles, surrendering six runs in 3.0 innings, giving up six hits and walking five.

Box Score

On the day, Ratliff finished 3-5 from the plate with four RBI's, three home runs, while being walked twice intentionally.

Bellarmine returns to action tomorrow afternoon as they host Ohio Dominican for a doubleheader, first pitch is set for noon.