LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bellarmine University softball started the home season off right with a sweep of Kentucky Wesleyan College on Saturday.  The Knights (4-2) run ruled the first game against the Panthers (0-2), scoring eight of their nine runs in the second inning.  Bellarmine did not seal the win in the second game until the top of the seventh, finishing 5-1.
 
Game 1 BU 9, KWC 0 (BOX SCORE)
 
Kelly Ely's grand slam to left field sparked the Knights early in the bottom of the second, pushing Rachel Fox, Melissa Hammer and Katie Stamper across home plate.  Hammer would later get hit by a pitch, scoring Miranda Mader.  On the next play, Hammer advanced to second on a wild pitch, which sent Eric Knollman to home plate.
 
Bellarmine was led by Ely's four RBIs (2-3), while Mader (2-3) earned two.  Ally Foster pitched a four-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts.
 
Game 2  BU 5, KWC 1 (BOX SCORE)
 
Bellarmine carried the first game momentum into the second when Megan Bretz singled to left field to put the Knights on top in the home half of the first, with Fox and Ely making it across home plate.
 
A hit from Olivia Russell would add to the Knights' lead, making it 3-0 at the end of the first.
 
Marlee Tevis knocked in the final two runs for Bellarmine.  In the bottom of the second, she singled through right side of the inning, scoring Hammer.  Then in the fourth inning Tevis doubled to right center field to score Fox.
 
Sam Marksbury finally put KWC on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth with an infield single that sent Delaney Mixer home.  Foster retired the next two batters to limit the Panthers to just the lone run.
 
In the seventh, KWC threatened but did not score as Foster finished off her second complete game victory of the day.
 
Tevis and Bretz each collected two RBIs, while going 2-for-4 and 1-for 2 respectively.
 
Foster had an almost identical second game, throwing 10 strikeouts and allowing only four hits.  Her pitching record improved to 4-0.
 
The Knights will travel to Columbus, GA next weekend to compete against Georgia College, Columbus State University and Young Harris College in the Cougar Classic.  Bellarmine will take to Knights Field on Feb. 21 in a doubleheader against Ohio Dominican University at noon.