LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Bellarmine University senior shortstop Erica Knollman homered twice  and freshman pitcher Alexis Sumner hurled a complete game three-hitter as Bellarmine defeated Montevallo 5-1 in their final game of the Music City Invitational on Sunday afternoon.
 
The win salvaged the road trip as the Knights had lost their first three games in the 10-team event hosted by Trevecca Nazarene at Drakes Creek Park in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
 
On Saturday, Bellarmine dropped games to Saginaw Valley State and Lindenwood, and fell 3-1 to Ohio Dominican on Sunday morning before coming back to beat the Falcons.
 
The Knights move to an even 6-6 on the season, and will now play six games at the "Regional Crossover" hosted by the University of Southern Indiana on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
 
GAME 1:  SVSU 9, BU 0 (HTM BOX SCORE)
 
The Knights were not greeted warmly in their opening game of the Music City Invitational as Bellarmine ran into the hot-pitching of Saginaw Valley State's Annie Hansen.
 
The senior right-hander hurled a no-hitter against the Knights while her teammates banged out 12 hits. The Cardinals' Lauren Bachert closed out the game in walk-out fashion by delivering a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth to run-rule the Knights.
 
Hansen allowed just four baserunners all day, walking three and hitting a batter. Two of those runners came in the top of the first, as Bellarmine couldn't get a runner past first base the rest of the game.
 
GAME 2:  Lindenwood 12, BU 2 (HTM BOX SCORE)
 
The Lindenwood Lions jumped on top early as pitcher Kimmy Fozzard delivered all the runs she would need by connecting for a grand slam in the top of the first. 
 
The Lions added another run in the second, and extended their lead to 7-0 with two more in the third.  The Knights finally got something going in the fourth when Erica Knollman and Katie Stamper led off with back to back singles. Knollman would later score on a Lindenwood error.
 
Bellarmine added another run in the fifth as Kelly Ely led off with a double. Rachel Fox came in to run for Ely and came around to score on a Megan Bretz single. However, the Knights couldn't mount a rally as the Lions cut down Bretz at the plate when she tried to score on a hit by Rachel Ayer.
 
Lindenwood exploded for five runs in the top of the sixth to put the game away for the Lions as they took the 12-2 victory.
 
GAME 3:  Ohio Dominican 3, BU 1 (HTM BOX SCORE)
 
On Sunday, the Knights pitching and defense held the Panthers of Ohio Dominican to just three runs, but the Bellarmine offense only produced six baserunners. 
 
The Panthers did most of their damage in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs on three singles and a sacrifice bunt.
 
The Knights squandered lead-off doubles by Melissa Hammer and Katie Stamper in the first and third innings and didn't get another baserunner until the top of the sixth.
 
Meanwhile, ODU's Kelly Mix connected for a solo homer in the third inning to stake the Panthers to a 3-0 lead.
 
Bellarmine did scratch across a run in the sixth. With two outs, Ely was hit by a pitch and Miranda Mader followed with a pinch hit single to put runners on the corners. Panther hurler Cameron Barber then misfired and Ely scampered home on the wild pitch.
 
After Ciara Incorvati was hit by a pitch, ODU made a pitching change, bringing on Bailey Miller, who retired all four Knights she face to record the save.
 
GAME 4:  BU 5, Montevallo 1 (HTM BOX SCORE)
 
After retiring the Falcons in order in the top of the first, Rachel Fox started the Bellarmine offense with a double to right center. The senior left fielder came around to score as the Knights played "small ball" with a pair of grounders that the Montevallo shortstop handled. However, after Megan Bretz drew a walk, Knollman played "big ball" with two-run homer.
 
The 3-0 lead would be all that Sumner would need as she cruised through the first six innings, facing just one over the minimum. However, the Knights' offense also stalled with no runners advancing past first over the next four innings.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, again it was Knollman delivering the big blow.  Ely led off with a single, but was  forced out as Bretz reached on a fielder's choice. Knollman followed with her second homer of the game to give the Knights a 5-0 advantage heading into the final inning.
 
Sumner issued a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh, and it resulted in losing the shutout as the runner came around to score as the Falcons' Kelsey Vining connected for a double down the right field line. However, the next batter flew into a double play when Vining tried to score on the fly ball to right but was cut down at the plate. Sumner retired the final batter on another fly ball to secure her fourth victory of the year.