KANSAS CITY, Mo.--The Bellarmine softball team split a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader with Rockhurst on Friday afternoon, winning the opener 3-1, but falling 4-3 in game two.

The Knights remain one game under .500 on the season at 17-18 and move to 6-8 in league play.  The Hawks are now 18-13 overall and 7-5 in the GLVC.

In the opener, the Knights got another solid pitching performance from junior Sabrina Fussenegger, who scattered six hits while going the distance. Fussenegger walked just one batter and struck out three.

Offensively, the Knights collected six hits by six different players. Fortunately for the Knights, one of the six hits was a two-run homer off the bat of Allison Woosley.  The other Bellarmine run was produced by Grace Werner's infield single.

In the second game, Bellarmine started well, but a four-run fifth inning by Rockhurst spelled the Knights' doom.

Bellarmine had built a 3-0 lead thanks in large part to the contributions of the Werner sisters. Paige Werner drove in the first run of the game in the second inning when her single knocked in Samantha Smith. Later in the inning, Grace Werner delivered a single to drive in her older sister. 

Then, in the top of the fourth, Paige Werner led off the inning with her second round-tripper of the year to account for Bellarmine's final run.

Meanwhile the Hawks were still being held at bay by Fussenegger's pitching, as the junior hurler picked up the start in game two as well. Rockhurst finally broke through with a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth. After a Bellarmine pitching change, Rockhurst tacked on one more run in the inning to take the one-run lead.  

The Knights went hitless in their final two at-bats as the Hawks hung on for the victory.

Bellarmine returns to action on Saturday with a doubleheader at William Jewell.  First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. (ET). 

GAME 1 HTM BOX SCORE

GAME 2 HTM BOX SCORE