LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The Knights hung on. Or more appropriately, Bellarmine first baseman Lillie Nitzken hung on to close out a 1-0 victory in game two of a doubleheader as the Knights salvaged a split with Great Lakes Valley Conference foe Lewis on Friday at Knights Field.

With a Lewis runner on second and Bellarmine clinging to a 1-0 lead, the Flyers' Cierra Taylor smoked a line drive down the first base line that Nitzken got a glove on and deflected the ball just behind the bag, where she made a diving catch to record the game's final out.

Bellarmine had scored the game's only run in the bottom of the fifth when Allison Woosley connected on her second homer of the season.

The Knights and Flyers combined for just eight hits in the game. Bellarmine starting pitcher Madeline Kurtz surrendered just three hits in five and a third innings and reliever Olivia Knies gave up just one.  However, the Knights' pitchers issued five walks in the game and twice the Flyers left the bases loaded. 

Woosley actually collected two of the Knights' four hits with Miranda Mader and pinch hitter Natalie Magnus recording the other two.

Kurtz picked up the win, and Knies notched her first save of the season.

In the opener, the long ball also provided all of the offense as Lewis took a 2-1 decision. 

Bellarmine pitcher Sabrina Fussenegger pitched a great game, giving up just three hits and one walk in delivering just 67 pitches in the seven-inning contest.  Unfortunately for her and the Knights, two of the three Lewis hits came back-to-back in the fifth inning with Flyer shortstop Morgan Weber lifting a homer just over the center field fence after Kendyl Strack had singled.

Lewis took the 2-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh when Bellarmine made a great comeback effort with two outs.  First, pinch hitter Paige Dabney crushed a 1-1 offering from Dara Sanders over the left field fence to break up the shutout. Then Samantha Smith drew a walk and Katie Stamper advanced pinch runner Paige Werner to third with a grounder just past the Lewis first baseman. Woosley then worked the count to 3-2, but Sanders induced a ground ball to end the game.

The Knights actually outhit Lewis 4-3 in game one with Taylor Poindexter and Ciara Incorvati also tallying base hits.

With the split, Bellarmine moves to 11-17 on the season and 2-8 in league play. Lewis remains .500 with a 15-15 overall record with a 4-8 mark in the GLVC.

Bellarmine is back in action tomorrow at noon when the Knights entertain Wisconsin-Parkside in a GLVC twin bill.

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HTM BOX SCORE GAME 2