CLEVELAND, Tenn.—The Bellarmine softball team entered the day with 15 games already under its belt, but played its first conventional doubleheader today at Lee University, gaining a split with the homestanding Flames. 
 
In the opener, Lee rode a 6-run second inning to a 10-5 victory with the Knights coming back to salvage a split with a 4-3 win in game two. The split leaves Bellarmine one game over .500 with a 9-8 overall record while Lee dips one game below .500 at 10-11.
 
GAME 1:  Lee 10, Bellarmine 5  (HTM BOX SCORE)
 
The Knights opened the day on a positive note with three runs in the top of the first.  After the first two batters were retired, the Knight rallied with two outs.  Freshman shortstop Hannah Webb got things rolling with a double to center, and junior first baseman followed with a double of her own to drive in the game's first run. After a walk, senior catcher Ciara Incorvati delivered a single to right and a Lee error allowed two runs to score.
 
Bellarmine tacked on another run in the top of the second to take a 4-0 lead, as the Knights again rallied with two outs when Sabrina Fussenegger and Grace Werner drew consecutive walks and Webb singled up the middle to plate Fussenegger.
 
However, the early 4-run cushion was erased in the home half of the second as the first eight Lee batters reached base.  In fact, the damage could have been worse as the Flames got five free passes from Bellarmine pitching (four walks and a hit batter) and tapped out four base hits. The Knights were able to limit Lee to six runs by cutting down a runner at the plate on a bases-loaded fielder's choice and getting an inning-ending double play.
 
The Knights came up with a run in the third as Natalie Magnus smacked a two-out triple and Carely Ziegler brought her home with a single. Unfortunately for the visitors, that would the end of their offensive production as Bellarmine managed just one hit in the final four innings. 
 
The Flames, meanwhile, recorded two runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings to extend the lead to 10-5 and that score held up as the final.
 
GAME 2:  Bellarmine 4, Lee 3 (HTM BOX SCORE)
 
In the second game, Lee took a 3-0 lead on one swing of the bat when Zoe Miller hit the eighth pitch of her at bat over the fence in right center for a 3-run homer in the bottom of the third. 
 
The Knights battled right back, however.  Helped by two walks to lead off the fourth inning, Paige Werner laid down a sacrifice bunt and Sydney Oskin followed with a single to plate two runs. Lee pitching then issued another free pass when Fussenegger was hit by a pitch, and both runners moved into scoring position on a ground out off the bat of Grace Werner. Webb then hit a hard grounder in the hole between short and third. The Lee shortstop was able to get a glove on it, but despite having practically no chance to retire Webb at first, threw anyway and the ball got away from the first baseman, allowing Fussenegger to score all the way from second base and give the Knights a 4-3 lead.
 
Fussenegger, who relieved Magnus in the circle in the second inning, cruised through the final four innings, allowing Lee just one base hit the rest of the way as Bellarmine hung on for the one-run victory.
 
Webb finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate, accounting for all but two of Bellarmine's base hits in the second game. On the day, Webb was 5-for-8 with two RBIs and a run scored.

The Knights are scheduled to return to action on Saturday when they host Kentucky State for a doubleheader at noon.