LOUISVILLE, Ky.—A dramatic seventh inning comeback and an outstanding pitching performance highlighted Bellarmine's sweep of Quincy in a Great Lakes Valley Conference softball doubleheader on Monday at Knights Field.
 
In the first game, Bellarmine pitcher Sabrina Fussenegger tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing just four base hits while not issuing a single walk and striking out seven as the Knights took a 2-0 victory.  Then in game two, Bellarmine rallied from a 3-2 deficit with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to complete the sweep with a 4-3 win.
 
Bellarmine improves to 16-17 and 5-7 in the GLVC play while Quincy slips to 14-16, 4-8 GLVC.
 
The Knights are on the road for their next two doubleheaders, traveling to William Jewell on Saturday and Rockhurst on Sunday.
 
GAME 1:  BU 2, QU 0 (HTM BOX SCORE)
 
Game one opened with a lot of promise for Quincy as Kay Bettendorf started the game with a single and catcher Remi Ferguson added a base hit up the middle to put runners on first and second with two outs. However, Fussenegger induced a ground out to get out of the inning unscathed, and as it turned out, those two base hits would be half of the Hawks' total for the game.
 
The Knights' offense, meanwhile, couldn't seem get going as Quincy pitcher Mac Kenzie Collier surrendered just three hits over the first five innings. 
 
Bellarmine finally broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth.  Sydney Oskin was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and advanced to second on Hannah Webb's ground out.  Grace Werner then legged out an infield single to put runners on the corners with one down. After Werner swiped second base, Samantha Smith went to the opposite field with a single to drive in both runners and give the Knights a 2-0 lead.
 
Fussenegger had no trouble holding that lead in the top of the seventh. Although an error allowed a baserunner with one out, Fussenegger closed out the game by striking out the final two batters.
 
Offensive leaders in game one included Smith with her two RBIs, along with Rachel Ayer, who went 2-for-3 and Sydney Oskin, who was 1-for-1 with a run scored.
 
GAME 2: BU 4, QU3 (HTM BOX SCORE)
 
Fussenegger went back to work in game two, retiring the side in order in the top of the first. This time, the Bellarmine offense provided some early run support as Webb and Smith stroked first inning doubles to give the Knights a 1-0 lead.
 
The Hawks finally broke through for a run in the top of the third.  Dana Walsh led off with a double to left that was literally inches short of clearing the fence. Fussenegger then struck out the next batter before giving way to reliever Olivia Knies.  Unfortunately for Bellarmine, Knies had control problems, issuing two walks and hitting two batters as Quincy plated two runs on just one hit.
 
Bellarmine came back to tie it in the home half of the third with a combination of aggressive base running and Quincy errors.  Grace Werner reached first when the Quincy pitcher misplayed her grounder, then advanced to second on Smith's grounder to second base. Then, the speedy Werner stole third base and scored when the catcher's throw ricocheted off Werner into foul territory in left field.
 
The Hawks battled back in the sixth inning. The first two batters singled and doubled to put runners on second and third with no outs. Knies then induced a pair of ground outs and a fly out, but Quincy was able to advance runners on the second ground out to push across the go-ahead run.
 
Trailing 3-2 heading into the seventh, Rachel Ayer drew a walk to lead off, then Woosley hit a ball to shallow left center that Quincy's left fielder try to make a diving catch on. The ball got past the fielder and into center field as Woosley hustled to second for a double. Fussenegger then delivered what should have been a game-tying single, but in trying to cut down Woosley at third, the throw from the outfield sailed over the head of the third baseman and Woosley scampered home with the winning run.
 
Knies shook off the early control problems to finish the game and notch the pitching victory--her fifth on the season. The offensive leaders in game two included Webb, Woosley and Fussenegger, who all collected two hits.