COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Bellarmine University softball team did not fare as well in day two of the Cougar Classic.  Facing off with the Young Harris College Lions (7-2) in game one, the Knights (5-5) only managed one run off a Katie Stamper double and fell 3-1.  The Columbus State Cougars (5-4) got their revenge in a rematch as the Knights' comeback fell short, and the host team hung on for the 5-4 victory.
 
Game 1 BU 1, YHC 3 (BOX SCORE)
 
The lone Bellarmine run came late in the top of the fourth.  Stamper dug in against the Lion's Darby Standford after Kelly Ely had drawn a walk.  Stamper delivered with a double, scoring Ely from first.
 
Young Harris, who is off to a good start this season, took an early lead as Murphy Davis singled and pushed Toni Perrucci across the plate in the bottom of the first.  The Knights were unable to catch up to the Lions with YHC scoring two more runs in the third inning.
 
The Knights banged out twice as many hits (10) as the Lions, but were unable to capitalize.
 
Left fielder Rachel Fox led Bellarmine going 2-for-3 at the plate. Erica Knollman went 1-for-2 and collected the Knights' only RBI of the game.
 
Although she delivered six strikeouts and surrendered just two earned runs, Ally Foster was saddled with the loss.
 
Game 2 BU 4, CSU 5 (BOX SCORE)
 
Similar to the first game, Bellarmine found themselves behind early in the first inning.  The Knights didn't hit their stride until the middle of the game, scoring in the third and fifth innings.
 
Ely's single to right field pushed across Melissa Hammer for a run to put the Knights on the scoreboard in the third to tie the score at 1-1.   
 
The Cougars answered back with their own single to the left side from Calli Star, sending Kia Smith to second.  Smith then advanced to third on the throw while two Cougars made it home putting CSU up 3-1.
 
A wild pitch and a throwing error by the catcher helped Ely and Foster score in the top of the fifth closing the gap to one.  Lillie Nitzken singled down the right field line, and pushed Knollman home, which tied the game at 4.
 
The Cougars scored another run late in the fifth inning, and the Knights went three up and three down to end the game in the top of the seventh.
 
Ely went 3-for-4 at the plate, with an RBI and scoring a run for the Knights. Nitzken also did well at the plate, going 2-for-3 and collecting an RBI.
 
Pitching in relief of freshman Madeline Kurtz, Marlee Tevis was pitcher of record for the Knights, falling to 0-2 on the season.