HUNTSVILLE, Ala.—The Bellarmine Knights softball team opened the Charger Chillout with a pair of losses on Friday, falling by the identical scores of 4-1 to the host team The University of Alabama-Huntsville and the University of West Alabama.
In the opener, the 11th-ranked Chargers got the scoring started in the bottom of the second when a double, a triple and a wild pitch plated a pair of runs to give the host team a 2-0 advantage. An inning later, the Chargers pushed the lead to 3-0 after a leadoff double led to a run.
After UAH tacked on another run in the fourth, the Knights finally got on the board in the top of the fifth.
Carley Ziegler was hit by a pitch to start the inning and a wild pitch moved her into scoring position, and fellow freshman
Sydney Oskin delivered an RBI single. After a pitching change, the Knights were retired in order in the finish the fifth. In fact, a sixth inning, two-out single was the only hit Bellarmine managed of Charger reliever Sydnee Uhlman.
For the game, the Knights totaled just five hits while UAH banged out nine in its six at-bats.
Sabrina Fussenegger hurled all seven inning in the circle for the Knights.
In the second game, the Knights got on the board quickly, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after Fussenegger doubled and
Rachel Ayer's single drove her home.
However, the Knights didn't enjoy the lead for long as West Alabama leadoff hitter Chrissy Tubbs singled and stole second then came around to score on a single to center.
After three scoreless innings, the Tigers mounted a rally in the bottom of the fifth when a pair of walks and an infield single loaded the bases. Hayes Fulford followed with a single to right that drove in two and eventually cleared the bases after the Knights tried to cut down Fulford advancing to second.
That one play gave West Alabama all the cushion they would need as Bellarmine produced just two more base runners the rest of the way, and the Tigers hung on for the 4-1 victory.
Again in the second game, the Knights totaled just five hits with two of those coming off the bat of Fussenegger. Three Knights pitchers saw action with
Olivia Knies getting the start and
Madeline Kurtz and
Natalie Magnus combining for one and two-thirds innings of relief.
Bellarmine returns to action in the "Charger Chillout" tomorrow with games against Georgia College (2 PM/1 PM CT) and the University of Montevallo (6 PM/5 PM CT).
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.
UAH BOX SCORE (HTM)
UWA BOX SCORE (HTM)
