LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Bellarmine softball team hosted its first ranked opponent since joining the Division I level on Wednesday night, and the Knights fell to no. 17 Kentucky by a final score of 13-4.
 
With Bellarmine and UK fans packing the stands and lawn seats at Knights Field, Bellarmine jumped out to an early 2-1 lead.  Megan Konermann blasted her second home run of the season over the left-center fence in the bottom of the first to give BU the edge.
 
UK answered immediately in the second, however, and did not look back.  The Wildcats plated three runs, capped by a Jenna Blanton two-run homer to right, pushing ahead 4-2.  Kentucky then added seven runs in the third, which proved to be the difference in the game.
 
Bellarmine got two back in the fourth with a two-run homer from Alexis Hargrove – her third home run of the season. 
 
The Knights totaled seven hits on the evening, led by Konermann who went 3-4.  Hargrove, Caitlyn Watson, and Anna Greenwell each had a hit for Bellarmine as well.
 
UK had 11 hits, with Blanton and Grace Lorsung each claiming three.  Erin Coffel had a team-high five RBI.
 
Sloan Gayan earned the victory for Kentucky, tossing four innings, while Bellarmine used all three of its primary pitchers – Carson Goatley, Elli Jensen, and Claire Lehmkuhler.  Over the final 4.1, Lehmkuhler was very strong, allowing just two earned runs – both of which came in the seventh inning.
 
The Knights host Central Arkansas this weekend in a three-game series, starting Saturday with a 1:00 p.m./3:00 p.m. doubleheader. 

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