EVANSVILLE, Ind. --- Behind a dominating pitching performance in the opener, the Bellarmine University softball team won the opening game of a doubleheader at Southern Indiana to split with the Screaming Eagles in Great Lakes Valley Conference action.

With the loss, Bellarmin's record moves to 16-12, 7-3 in the GLVC while USI, who was leading the conference, sits at 16-6, 9-1 in conference.

GAME 1: Bellarmine 4, Southern Indiana 0
Bellarmine plated four runs in the first two innings combined with a lockdown pitching performance from Alicia Miller to earn the 4-0 shutout victory in the opener.

In the first, Cynthia Brown was able to score when USI's Kara Werner dropped a pop up that would have ended the inning. Brown would ignite the BU offense in the second. With the bases load the senior centerfielder ripped a single to right field after five consecutive fouls balls to bring Hannah Daunhauer home.

The Screaming Eagle's Brooke Harmening would then walk Lauren Summe on four straight pitches to bring home another run. Erin Sireno would score on the next play on a fly out by Megan Murdoch to push the Knights' lead to 4-0.

With the lead firmly in hand, Miller would throw a dominating game from the circle, allowing just two hits over 7.0 without walking a batter to earn her eighth victory. Her third shutout victory of her freshman campaign, Miller lowers her season ERA to 2.30.

Brown and Murdoch led the offensive charge for the Knights, coming up with three hits and a RBI apiece.

Box Score

GAME 2: Southern Indiana 3, Bellarmine 1
Brown came up big for the Knights in game two as well, tripling in the first inning, eventually scoring on Summe's double to right center to take a 1-0 lead.

Southern Indiana would score a run in the bottom of the second to tie the game up on Laura Hatfield's single to left. The Screaming Eagles would lead off the third inning with back-to-back singles to force Renee Hicks to bring Amanda Meyer in from the bullpen for Miller.

Meyer would keep the damage at a minimum, allowing one run and inducing a double play to end the inning. USI would add an insurance run in the fourth in the fourth to extend the lead to 3-1.

Bellarmine had a chance to get back in the game in the sixth with the bases loaded and two outs, but Erin Sireno's flied out to deep center to end the inning.

Miller took the loss for the Knights giving up two runs in 2.0 innings of work, Meyer struck out five in 4.0 innings of relief.

Box Score

Bellarmine will stay on the road on Sunday, traveling to Owensboro, Ky. To take on Kentucky Wesleyan in a doubleheader, first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.