LIBERTY, Mo.--Although the day started on a positive note, in the end, the Bellarmine softball team had to settle for its second straight doubleheader split in Great lakes Valley Conference action today at William Jewell.
The Knights scored three runs in their first inning and would go on to post a 7-4 win in the first game, but got blanked 4-0 in game two.
The split leaves Bellarmine 18-19 overall with a 7-9 GLVC record while the Cardinals move to 17-15, 6-8 GLVC.
Bellarmine's next action comes at home when they host Drury and Missouri S&T in doubleheaders slated for noon starts on Saturday and Sunday.
GAME 1: BU 7, WJC 4 (
HTM BOX SCORE)
Bellarmine opened the game with a bang, as
Grace Werner led with a double down the left field line, then stole third base.
Hannah Webb followed with a bunt to score Werner, and
Rachel Ayer smacked a home run to make the score 3-0 after just three Bellarmine batters. Samanth Smith then flied out on the 14th ptitch of her at bat, and William Jewell pitcher Sarah Lewis settled down after that, retiring the next two batters.
The Cardinals battled back with a run in the home half of the first on a bases-loaded walk to draw within 3-1.
Interestingly, the teams only scored in two innings with both teams scoring in the first and the sixth.
The Knights exploded for four runs on six hits in the top of the sixth.
Sydney Oskin delivered a two-run double in the frame with
Carley Ziegler and Webb also driving in runs with singles.
Facing a 7-1 deficit, William Jewell did not go quietly. After back to back singles started the bottom of the sixth, Lewis helped her own cause with a three-run homer. The Cardinals added another single before Bellarmine called on
Sabrina Fussenegger to relieve Oskin, who had gotten the start in the circle. Fussenegger ended the Cardinals' offensive output by retiring all six batters she faced as she pitched two perfect innings of relief to pick up the save.
Offensive leaders for the Knights in game one inlcuded Webb, Woosley and
Joelle Zielinski with two hits apiece while Webb, Ayer and Oskin each collected two RBIs.
GAME 2: WJC 4, BU 0 (
HTM BOX SCORE)
Although Bellarmine threatened in the top of the first in game two, singles by Webb and Ayer went for naught as the Knights stranded two runners.
The Cardinals, on the other hand, wasted no time getting on the board as senior outfielder Madelynne Greenstreet led off the first with a solo homer. William Jewell tacked on another unearned run as the Cardinals loaded the bases, and a passed ball allowed a run to score.
The 2-0 lead was more than enough for William Jewell pitcher Anna Biondo, who hurled a gem for the home team. After the first, she allowed just three hits and didn't issue a walk. In fact, the only runner to reach second base for the Knights was Webb, who doubled in the third inning.
William Jewell scored single runs in the fifth and sixth inning to make the final score 4-0.
Fussenegger went the distance in the circle for Bellarmine and was saddled with the loss despite giving up just two earned runs.
