LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Bellarmine University softball team was derailed by Lincoln Memorial (6-15) Sunday, losing both games in the doubleheader.  The Knights (10-12) laid an egg in game one with sophomore pitcher Brianna Taylor allowing only two hits.  Bellarmine's late inning push in game two was too little too late as the Knights fell 3-6.
 
Game 1 BU 0, LMU 2 (BOX SCORE HTM)
 
The Railsplitters immediately went to work in the top of the first with Savannah Couch reaching on an error and a sacrifice bunt advanced her to second.  Couch scored off a sacrifice bunt from Jennifer Moose to give LMU a 1-0 lead.
 
The next three and a half innings went by quickly with very little offense out of either team.  Bellarmine's left fielder Rachel Fox snagged a line drive and threw it to Kelly Ely to prevent the runner on third from making an attempt for home in the top of the fifth.  Madeline Kurtz struck out the next Railsplitter for the third out, but the Knights were unable to capitalize in the home half of the inning.
 
Kurtz bailed out the Knights again in the sixth, striking out two batters to end the inning with runners on second and third.
 
Lincoln Memorial added to their lone run in the seventh.  Ashlea Hunter singled through the right side, stealing second on the next play.  Allie Jones stepped to the plate and was tagged out by first baseman Lillie Nitzken after her bunt took an odd bounce.  Hunter slid home during that action to extend the lead to 2-0.
 
Although striking out three Railsplitters, Kurtz (0-4) was saddled with the loss.  Melissa Hammer and Marlee Tevis each tallied a hit, the only two for the Knights.
 
Game 2 BU 3, LMU 6 (BOX SCORE HTM)
 
Tevis started in the circle for the Knights and held Lincoln Memorial to only one hit until the third inning.  Schrimpf drilled a single to center field and advanced on the throw, which drove in the two runners on base and gave LMU a 2-0 lead.
 
The Railsplitters poured on the coal when Schrimpf, leading off in the top of the sixth, smacked the ball over the center field fence.  Lincoln Memorial would go on to score three more runs in the inning.
 
Down 6-0, the Knights rallied in the home half of the sixth.  Ely notched their first run of the day when Fox, pinch hitting for Allison Woosley, singled to right field. 
 
LMU went three up and three down in the top of the seventh, giving Bellarmine the chance to perform in crunch time.
 
With Miranda Mader on first to pinch run for Ciara Incorvati after a single to third base, Megan Bretz's one-base liner to left center advanced Mader to second. Hammer's single down the left scored Mader, and Bretz was able to slide home after an error by the catcher, which cut the lead to three.  However, the comeback fell short and LMU held on for the win.
 
Ely and Incorvati led the Knights, both going 2-for-3 at the plate.  Hammer and Fox each tallied an RBI.  Tevis was charged with the loss, striking out two batters.
 
Bellarmine will begin conference play at home in doubleheaders against Drury University Saturday at noon and Missouri S&T Sunday at noon.