Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 | Box Score 4 DECATUR, Ala. --- The Bellarmine University softball team opened their 2013 campaign over the weekend by going an even 3-3 in the annual Charger Chillout, hosted by the University of Alabama Huntsville.

Bellarmine split day one with a convincing 7-5 victory over Palm Beach Atlantic before losing late to No. 19 Barry University. After dropping a pair of games in day two, the Knights finished strong by sweeping Charleston and West Alabama in the final day of action.

After ranking second in the Great Lakes Valley Conference in homeruns last season, the Knights showed off their power early and often by hitting 7 bombs in six games. Senior Megan Murdoch got the ball rolling in the top of the first against Palm Beach Atlantic, hitting a two-run shot. Already the program's all-time leader in the category, the Indianapolis native has 33 for her career.

While Murdoch started the longball trend, it was catcher Scarlett Powers who stole the show as the sophomore hit three home runs in the event including two in the 13-5 rout over Charleston. The Brandenburg, Ky. native totaled 7 RBIs during the weekend, going 6-for-20 from the plate.

Along with Murdoch and Powers, freshmen Ally Foster, senior Madi Ratliff and junior Abby Lenhart also hit home runs. Lenhart's solo shot against Charleston was the first of her career.

The Knights' offense wasn't all home runs though as they hit a combined 54-for-164 (.329) from the plate with six players hitting above the .300 threshold. Eight players registered RBIs with 12 scoring runs.

Coach Renee Hicks used all six pitchers on the roster with Alicia Miller, Lindsay Wiles, and Tanner Tevis all picking up wins in the circle. The 13.1 innings that Tevis threw were the first for the sophomore after she was reduced to one pinch running appearance as a freshman.

While Tevis had a reintroduction to collegiate softball, it was the freshman Foster who impressed in her true debut. The homegrown, Christian Academy product went 11-of-21 from the plate, scoring 8 runs and hitting a three-run shot against Charleston. Foster played all over the field, seeing action at centerfield, right field, and in the circle.

The victory over West Alabama may have been the Knights' most impressive of the weekend, rallying from a 4-1 deficit to win 5-4 over the Tigers, a NCAA Tournament team in 2012. Murdoch started the rally with a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth with fellow senior Casey Cleary scoring the deciding run.

The Knights will now turn their attention to their home opener this weekend in a round robin weekend with Lincoln Memorial and Ashland. The Knights will play Ashland first at 1:00 p.m. followed by Lincoln Memorial at approximately 3:00.   

BOX SCORES
BU 7, Palm Beach Atlantic 5                    No. 19 Barry 5, BU 3

Florida Tech 7, BU 1                                  Delta St. 5, BU 4

BU 13, Charleston 5                                  BU 5, West Alabama 4