LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Playing a day ahead of the original scheduled game date to combat an unfavorable Saturday weather forecast, the Bellarmine softball team dropped a pair of closely contested games to No. 12 Indianapolis in a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader at UIndy's Baumgartner Field on Friday afternoon.
The host Greyounds fended off a seventh-inning rally from Bellarmine to take game one by the score of 2-1. Then, the hosts got a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth to hold off another seventh-inning rally from the Knights as Paige Dabney slammed a pinch hit, three-run homer in BU's final at-bat to make the final score 6-3.
Game one opened with literal perfection from starting pitchers Sabrina Fussenegger of Bellarmine and UIndy's Lauren Honkomp. Both hurlers had perfect games through three complete innings before a Bellarmine error broke up the perfect game in the bottom of the fourth.
Both no-hitters extended until the fifth inning when Bellarmine catcher Ciara Incorvati recorded the game's first hit with a single to left. Marlee Tevis followed with another single, but the Knights' hit parade ended there as UIndy escaped without giving up a run.
The Greyhounds also got their first hit in the fifth, but they didn't stop with one. Back-to-back doubles provided the game's first run and then a two-out double gave UIndy a 2-0 lead.
The Knights made a comeback attempt in the seventh when Lillie Nitzken reached base on an error and advanced one bag on Samantha Smith's grounder to second. Paige Werner came on to pinch run, and Incorvati walked to put runners at first and second.
After a fielder's choice cut down Incorvati at second, Katie Stamper delivered an RBI single to get the Knights within one run. However, the Bellarmine comeback ended with runners stranded at second and third as the Hounds hung on for the win.
In game two, again the starting pitchers—Madeline Kurtz for Bellarmine and Haylie Foster for UIndy—started out strong. After the Hounds plated two runs on three hits in the bottom of the second for a 2-0 lead, Kurtz didn't allow a runner past first base until the sixth inning.
Meanwhile, UIndy's Foster was limiting the Knights' offensive chances, surrendering just three hits and issuing a walk in the first six frames to hold Bellarmine scoreless over that stretch.
Indianapolis broke things open a bit in the home half of the sixth. After the leadoff batter flied out, the next three Greyhound batters reached safely to load the bases. Bellarmine Coach Renee Hicks went to the bullpen, but reliever Olivia Knies gave up a grand slam to the first batter she faced. Knies recovered to retire the next two hitters, but Bellarmine faced a 6-0 deficit heading into the final inning.
The first two Bellarmine hitters were retired, but Stamper extended the game with a single to right and Miranda Mader drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Again Hicks went to the bench, calling on Dabney to pinch hit, and the sophomore came through by drilling Foster's 2-0 offering over the center field fence. Unfortunately for Bellarmine, its rally ended there as the Hounds completed the doubleheader sweep with a 6-3 game two victory.
Indianapolis improves to 23-5, 7-1 GLVC while Bellarmine falls to 10-16, 1-7 GLVC.
The Knights return to action by hosting Lewis in a Good Friday doubleheader slated for a noon start.
For more coverage of Bellarmine athletics, follow us on Twitter (@BUKnights), Instagram (BUKnights), Facebook (BUKnights) and the BUKnights mobile app available for iPhone and Android.
GAME1 HTM BOX SCORE
GAME2 HTM BOX SCORE
