FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Bellarmine Knights took a break from conference play to take on Kentucky State University (4-17) in a Wednesday afternoon doubleheader.  The first game was a battle to the finish with three Knights tallying home runs but falling in a 10-9 decision.  Tabby Shewmaker started Bellarmine with a homer while Madeline Kurtz hurled a shutout in the game two 9-0 win.
 
The Knights (15-17) return to conference action for a pair of home doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday.  First up, the McKendree Bearcats at noon and 2 p.m. Friday.  Saturday's matchup, also at noon and 2 p.m., will feature the University of Illinois Springfield.
 
Game 1 BU 9, KSU 10 (HTM BOX SCORE)
 
The top of the second brought the first runs on the game.  Lillie Nitzken singled to right field to drive in Katie Stamper while Erica Knollman advanced to second after both Stamper and Knollman reached on fielder's choices. Another Bellarmine single from Rachel Fox sent Knollman home and put the Knights up 2-0.
 
The Thorobreds answered back with four runs of their own to take the lead 4-2 in the bottom of the second.
 
Bellarmine didn't find an answer until the fourth inning.  Marlee Tevis led off again with her second single of the game--this time through the left side--and advanced to second off Stamper's sacrifice bunt.  Knollman stepped up to the plate and smacked a homer over the fence in left center field, tying the game at four.
 
The battle continued as KSU tallied another run in the bottom of the fourth.  But the Knights regained the lead quickly.  Allison Woosley, pinch hitting for Melissa Hammer, tripled to left field in the top of the fifth.  Tevis did one better and homered to center field, putting Bellarmine up 6-5.
 
The bottom of the sixth brought two more runs for Kentucky State, and the Knights went back to work in crunch time.  Leading off, Megan Bretz reached on a throwing error and advanced to second.  Woosley followed suit, reaching on an error, which sent Bretz to third.  Woosley stole second just before Tevis hit her second home run of the game to give Bellarmine a 9-7 lead.
 
But the Knights were unable to stop the Thorobreds' rebuttal as they tallied another three runs to win the game 10-9. Bellarmine's fielding miscues helped fuel KSU's run production in the first game, as seven of Kentucky State's 10 runs were unearned.
 
Tevis led the Knights going 4-for-4 at the plate and collecting an incredible five RBIs.  Knollman went 1-for-3 and tallied two RBIs of her own.  Tevis was saddled with the loss in the circle.
 
Game 2 BU 9, KSU 0 (HTM BOX SCORE)
 
Bellarmine dominated the second game with Kurtz pitching a shutout and allowing only three hits.  The Knights found themselves on the scoreboard in the second inning again as Shewmaker drilled a lead-off homer to center field to give BU a 1-0 lead.
 
The top of the third brought more action for Bellarmine, tallying five more runs.  Woosley led off with a double down the left line and advanced to third off Knollman's sacrifice bunt.  KSU's Emily Jenkins walked Tevis, and she proceeded to steal second on the next pitch.  Next up, Stamper singled to left field, advancing Tevis to third and driving in Woosley.  Stamper took a page out of Tevis' book and stole second on the next pitching series.  Shewmaker was able to single to right, advancing Stamper to third and pushing Tevis across. The Knights would go on to bat around in the inning with Fox, Ciara Incorvati and Woosley picking up the final three RBIs of the inning.
 
With a 6-0 lead, the Knights picked up where they left off in the fourth inning. Two walks and a KSU error loaded the bases, and Fox delivered the inning's big blow by smacking a ground rule double to left center to drive in two more. Another KSU error allowed in the game's final run.
 
Down nine runs, the Thorobreds were unable to find a groove, managing only three hits and leaving those runners stranded.
 
After two homers in game one, Tevis was walked three times by Kentucky State.  Shewmaker led the Knights going 2-for-3 at the plate and collecting two RBIs.  Woosley also went 2-for-3 and tallied an RBI. 
 
Kurtz kept the Thorobreds from reaching home and struck out eight batters in five innings.