DUNCAN, S.C. – Day one of the Mid-South Classic brought some success for the Bellarmine University softball team Friday.  The Knights (8-8) fell to three-time All-Conference pitcher Stacey Houser and the Wingate University Bulldogs (5-2) in game one 3-2 at Tyger River Complex.  But Bellarmine hit its stride in game two with home runs from Ally Foster and Marlee Tevis, knocking off the Lander University Bearcats 5-1.
 
Game 1 BU 2, WU 3 (BOX SCORE HTM)
 
The pitching staff for both the Knights and the Bulldogs arrived at the tournament ready for tough competition.  Houser prevented Bellarmine from scoring until the bottom of the fifth, while Foster stuck out nine Bulldogs.
 
Foster got the Knights out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the first, and continued with solid pitching throughout the game allowing only six hits.
 
A third inning homer from Mellena Helms broke the scoring barrier for the game, putting Wingate in the lead 1-0.  The Knights and the Bulldogs both went three up and three down in the fourth.
 
In the top of the fifth, Erica Knollman walked and Lillie Nitzken followed with a single. Both runners then advanced on a wild pitch, and Foster took advantage of having runners in scoring positon with single up the middle to give the Knights a 2-1 lead. 
 
Bellarmine held onto the slim lead until the bottom of the seventh when the Bulldogs rallied with two singles and a pair of walks to score twice and earn the comeback victory. 
 
Houser improved her record 4-0, while Foster was saddled with the loss.
 
Game 2 BU 5, LU 1 (BOX SCORE HTM)
 
The Knights recovered from the loss quickly and jumped to an early lead against the Bearcats (6-6) in game two.  Foster led off with a double, and Melissa Hammer singled to right field to drive in the game's first run.
 
Foster then went to work in the circle, striking out the side in the bottom of the first.
 
The Knights added to their lead in the third inning when Hammer sent the ball flying again, this time to left field, driving in Allison Woosley.  McKenzi Ferguson was called into the circle for Lander in the fourth inning in an effort to stop the Knights.
 
However the Knights ended the Bearcat's chance of a win in the seventh inning as Foster was able to knock the ball out of the park for the sixth time this season.  Tevis followed suit with a 2 RBI homer giving Bellarmine a 5-0 lead.
 
Bryanna Vasq's last-ditch effort double to center field that scored Madison Moor for the Bearcats' lone run wasn't enough to catch Bellarmine.
 
Hammer led the Knights going 3-for-4 and collecting two RBIs.  Foster went 3-for-4 at the plate with one RBI.  She also contributed in the circle, improving her pitching record to 8-4, striking out 10 batters.
 
Bellarmine will face Armstrong Sate University Saturday at 10 a.m. and the Catawba College Indians at 2 p.m. in the second day of the Mid-South Classic.