LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Junior Sabrina Fussenegger fired a gem in the opener and freshman Sydney Oskin was clutch in the pitcher's circle and the batter's box in the tail end as the Bellarmine University softball team swept McKendree by scores of 3-0 and 4-3 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play on Sunday at Knights Field.

Fussenegger tossed a complete-game shutout in the first contest for Bellarmine (13-12, 2-2 GLVC), which played error-free and stout Sunday after defensive miscues proved costly Saturday when the Knights were swept by Illinois Springfield. Oskin then earned the victory in relief and drove in the game-winning run as Bellarmine rallied against McKendree (13-15, 0-4) in the finale.

Game 1: Bellarmine 3, McKendree 0
Fussenegger notched her third shutout of the season and fourth complete game after allowing five hits and one walk while striking out five. She never let the Bearcats get in a rhythm, as they had two runners on base in an inning just twice.

The second time that happened, in the sixth, Fussenegger had already recorded two outs, and she ended the mild threat with a strikeout. McKendree got a leadoff single in the seventh, but Fussenegger retired the next three batters to lock up the shutout.

Bellarmine scored the only run it would need in the first after taking advantage of a two-base error by an outfielder. The Knights scored on a rare sacrifice fly where the baserunner scored from second base. Junior first baseman Samantha Smith smacked a deep drive to left, and the outfielder made a fine catch while falling to the ground as she went back to make the snag. Freshman right fielder Grace Werner tagged up, raced around third and scored standing up at home.

Werner and Smith were at it again in the sixth. Werner beat out an infield single and Smith tattooed her fifth home run of the season, a two-run shot to left that provided Bellarmine valuable insurance.

Junior second baseman Rachel Ayer collected two of Bellarmine's five hits.

Game 2: Bellarmine 4, McKendree 3
With the score tied at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth, freshman center fielder Carley Ziegler ripped a one-out double to left center. Oskin followed by slashing a single up the middle, and Ziegler hustled home with the go-ahead run.

Oskin made sure it was would stand as the game-winning run in the top of the seventh. She had entered in relief with one out in the sixth. In the final inning, Oskin retired the first two batters before McKendree followed with a single and a walk. She turned back the Bearcats after inducing a game-ending fly out.

Bellarmine made several key defensive plays after the Knights gained a 4-3 lead in the fourth. Junior third baseman Paige Werner twice cut down runners at the plate, one on a rundown and another on a force out with the bases loaded. Ziegler made a diving catch on a line drive to end the fifth directly following the rundown.

McKendree scored twice in the second, but Bellarmine posted three runs in the fourth. Oskin had a sharp single up the middle that scored two runs, and the Knights also benefited from another error in the outfield where two Bearcats collided on a routine fly ball, allowing one run to score. Considering the one-run final, Bellarmine's timely defense was perhaps the difference.

Ayer, Ziegler and Oskin all had two hits. Oskin drove in three runs.

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.

GAME 1 BOX SCORE (HTM)
GAME 2 BOX SCORE (HTM)