LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Bellarmine University softball team gutted out a 2-1 victory in Game 1 of Tuesday afternoon's doubleheader with Northern Kentucky University at Knights Field, only to fall 3-1 to the Norse in Game 2.
 
Game 1: Bellarmine 2, Northern Kentucky 1 (Box Score)
 
Centerfielder Cynthia Brown's outfield assist at home plate to catcher Scarlett Powers on Norse centerfielder Kaylin Steinmetz with two outs in the seventh inning preserved the Bellarmine win in a thrilling fashion.
 
Bellarmine, despite only totaling two hits for the game, scored their runs early, as shortstop Megan Murdoch belted her eighth homerun of the season, driving in leadoff hitter Lauren Summe in the first inning.
 
Left fielder Erin Sireno was the only other BU player with a hit in the game, a single down the left field line in the second inning.
 
Starting pitcher Alicia Miller (W, 11-11) was in control throughout the contest, allowing only an unearned run in the third inning.  She finished her outing giving up eight hits with two strikeouts and no walks. 
 
Her counterpart, NKU's Emily Schwaeble (L, 16-4), struck out nine batters and allowed two walks in the six-inning performance.
 
Game 2: Northern Kentucky 3, Bellarmine 1 (Box Score)
 
The Knights loaded the bases with one out in the seventh inning, but Sireno and Powers both went down swinging to end the comeback chances.
 
Summe went 2-for-3 for the game with a walk and a leadoff single in the seventh to initiate the Knights' charge.
 
Starter Amanda Meyer (L, 11-7) allowed two earned runs off three hits in 4.1 innings, striking out three Norse.  Miller returned to the mound in relief, and struck out one in 2.2 innings of work.
 
Bellarmine once again knocked in a first inning run when third baseman Madi Ratliff's two-out single up the middle scored Summe from third base.
 
Right fielder Dana Jarboe's RBI single in the top half of the fifth inning scored left fielder Mandi McQueen and gave NKU (23-13, 13-9 GLVC) the lead for good.
 
Bellarmine (22-18, 13-9 GLVC) returns to the field on Friday for a doubleheader with the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.  First pitch of Game 1 is scheduled for noon.