HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Using an offensive explosion in game two, the Bellarmine University softball team cruised to a 9-1 victory in game two to split a doubleheader with the Northern Kentucky Norse on Wednesday afternoon in Great Lakes Valley Conference action.

With the split, Bellarmine (28-24, 18-14 GLVC) stays in fourth place in the GLVC East and inches closer to locking up a bid to the conference tournament. Northern Kentucky (28-16, 18-12 GLVC) sits one spot ahead of the Knights in third place.

Game 1: Northern Kentucky 5, Bellarmine 2
The homestanding Norse scattered five runs in the first four innings to take the opener from the Kngihts. Starter Amanda Meyer (15-9) went 3.0 innings before exiting the game, giving up seven hits including a solo homer to Mandi McQueen in the bottom of the first to kick start NKU's offense.

It took 6.1 innings for the Knights to get on the scoreboard, when junior Megan Murdoch drove in a pair of runs on a double to left center to bring in Kayla Padgett and Casey Cleary. Down 5-2 with two outs in the seventh, Bellarmine was able to mount a mini-rally, but NKU pitcher Emily Schwaeble got Erin Sireno to look at strike three to end the game.

The Norse outhit Bellarmine 11-6, with three of those hits courtesy of senior first basemen Lauren Summe, who was a perfect 3-3 from the plate.

Schwaeble earned the win for NKU, striking out 11 in 7.0 innings of work.

Box Score

Game 2: Bellarmine 9, Northern Kentucky 1 (6 innings)
Bellarmine used a five run fourth inning, capped by a grand slam by Murdoch to deep center, to  win going away, 9-1 in a shortened six inning game.

Both teams plated a run in the second, with Bellarmine scoring a pair in the third to go 3-1. The inning was lead off by a solo shot by Summe, her seventh of the season.

Abby Lenhart led off the five-run fifth with a single, followed by a walk and a RBI single by Summe. Senior Cynthia Brown, who finished 4-4 from the plate in the game, loaded the bases by singling up the middle to set up Murdoch's slam. The grand slam was Murdoch's 11th on the year, to bring her into a tie for the team lead with Madi Ratliff.

The Knights loaded the bases again in the sixth with Hannah Daunhauer drawing a walk to force the game to end after six innings.

Freshman Alicia Miller (14-15) was rock steady from the circle, tossing 6.0 innings and giving up five hits to earn the victory.

Box Score

Bellarmine will close out the regular season this weekend, traveling to St. Joseph's on Saturday and Indianapolis on Sunday.