HUNTSVILLE, Ala.—The Bellarmine Knights softball team concluded its Charger Chillout 2.0 experience with two more games that were decided in just five innings.
After run-ruling Mississippi College and Miles College on day one, the Knights rolled to a 24-8 victory over Tuskegee on Friday morning before having the tables turned against North Alabama, falling 11-1 in five innings.
Bellarmine moves to an even 3-3 on the season with its next action coming at the Music City Invitational in Nashville, Tennessee Feb. 17 and 18.
GAME 1: BU 24, Tuskegee 8 (HTM BOX SCORE)
The first three innings were the quintessential slugfest as the Knights posted the most runs in a game since 1995 when they lambasted Franklin 33-3. In today's game Bellarmine surrendered a pair of runs in the top of the first, but quickly claimed the lead for good with 8 runs in the bottom of the first.
After Tuskegee closed with 8-7 in the top of the second, the Knights unleashed an 11-run second inning to extend their lead to 19-7.
The teams still weren't ready to put away their offenses as the Golden Tigers tallied a run in the top of the third and the Knights kept pouring it on with five more runs.
Then, the scoring came to a screeching halt as Tuskegee went three up and three down in the final two innings and BU managed just one baserunner.
When the dust settled, the Knights finished with 20 hits with nine different players collecting a base knock. Sabrina Fussenegger was particularly effective in the leadoff spot, going 4-for-5 with five runs batted in and two runs scored.
Other top performances by Bellarmine players included Katie Stamper (3-for-4, 3 runs, 4 RBI), Ciara Incorvati (2-for-5, 2 runs, 4 RBI), and Rachel Ayer (3-for-3, 3 runs, 3 RBI).
Alexis Sumner picked up the win the circle for the Knights.
GAME 2: North Alabama 11, BU 1 (HTM BOX SCORE)
After their offensive explosion against Tuskegee, the Knights appeared to have little left in their tank to take on the Lions, who were among the teams getting votes in the preseason top 25 balloting.
North Alabama opened the game's scoring in the bottom of the second, hammering out five base hits and exploiting a Bellarmine walk and an error to plate six runs.
Bellarmine scored its lone run in the top of the third when the Knights collected all three of their hits. Miranda Mader belted a double down the left field line, and after Alexa Foster's single advance her to third, Mader trotted home on Lillie Nitzken's single to center.
The Lions kept pouring it on in the home half of the third with three more runs. After UNA plated two more runs in the fourth, they closed it out in the fifth inning by stranding a pair of BU baserunners to claim the 11-1 victory.
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