NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The long ball ruled the game during Bellarmine University's  softball season opener at Trevecca Nazarene University Friday night.  The Knights split with the Trojans, winning the first game 9-3 powered by two home runs apiece from Marlee Tevis and Kelly Ely.
 
However, five home runs for TNU, including a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the sixth, gave the Trojans a 12-3 victory in game two.  There were a total of 11 homers hit in the doubleheader between the two teams.
 
Game 1: BU 9, TNU 3  (BOX SCORE)
 
Trevecca opened the scoring by pushing across an unearned run in the bottom of the third.  The Knights answered immediately in the top of the fourth as designated player Miranda Mader drew a walk in front of Kelly Ely's first home run of the game. 
 
Shelby Andrews reclaimed the lead for the Trojans with a two-run "dinger" in the home half of the fourth. 
 
Bellarmine dominated the rest of the game, tallying seven more unanswered runs. 
 
Tevis was 2-for-4 with two homers and five RBIs.  This was her first multi-home run game of her career, and the two home runs equaled her total from last season.  Ely also recorded her first multi-homer game of career and finished the game 3-for-3 with three RBIs.
 
As team, the Knights banged out 12 base hits to support starting pitcher Ally Foster, who worked the first four innings and collected the win. Tevis finished the game in the circle, picking up the save.
 
Game 2: BU 3, TNU 12 (BOX SCORE)
 
The Trojans flipped the script in the second game of the matchup.  Bellarmine grabbed an early lead when Foster led off with a double and came around to score on Ely's sacrifice fly to left.
 
The Knights' early lead was quickly matched by TNU on Bailey Alexander's home run to left field in the bottom of the first.
 
Tevis gave the lead back to Bellarmine in the top of third with a two-run opposite field blast that scored Ely who was aboard after getting hit by a pitch.
 
However, the Trojans took over from there.  Alex Richardson continued the long ball theme in the home half of the third.
 
The game was decided by Jordan Griner's grand slam to right center field at the bottom of the sixth. 
Bellarmine managed just three hits in the nightcap with Foster ripping two doubles in addition to Tevis' homer. 
 
The Knights are back in action Saturday taking on Lee University in a doubleheader beginning at noon in Cleveland, Tenn.