WESTFIELD, Ind.—The Bellarmine softball team won a close one but lost a close one on Saturday at Grand Park. The Knights fell 2-1 in their opener to Northwood but came back with an extra inning win over Lake Erie by the same 2-1 score.
In the opener, Bellarmine managed just two hits against Northwood hurler Shayna Frank with the Knights' lone run coming courtesy a Timberwolves error.
Bellarmine pitcher
Shelby Kelley also turned in a solid performance, working five and two thirds and allowing just two earned runs.
The Timberwolves pushed across their first run in the bottom of the second as they collected three of their seven hits in the inning. Northwood tacked on another run in the sixth when the T-wolves again notched three base hits.
The Knights finally broke through for a run in the top of the seventh.
Alexis Hargrove led off with a single and eventually came around to score on an error by the Northwood right fielder.
Sarah Ratterman then drew a walk to put runners at first and second, but the Knights' comeback attempt stalled as the Wolves' right fielder got some redemption for her error by recorded the final out to secure the win.
Bellarmine's second game of the day also saw the Knights go scoreless over the first six innings but rallied with a run in the seventh to force extra innings and won it in the bottom of the eighth.
Despite the lack of runs, hitting was not issue for Bellarmine against Lake Erie. The Knights outhit The Storm 13-3 but left 11 runners on base.
Lake Erie grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the third with an unearned run, driven in on a bunt single.
After leaving the bases loaded twice, Bellarmine finally got the tying run in the bottom of the seventh, set up by aggressive baserunning.
Grace Werner started the inning with single then Hargrove drew a walk. The duo then pulled off a double steal, which allowed Werner to scamper home with the tying run on Kelley's grounder to second.
Playing the international tie-breaking rules, each team started with a runner on second base beginning in the eighth. After keeping The Storm off the scoreboard in the top half of the inning, Bellarmine loaded the bases on a bunt single by Ratterman and an infield single by
Anna Greenwell. Again it looked as if the Knights might leave the sacks full, but Werner delivered a two-out single to drive in the winning run.
Bellarmine pitcher
Olivia Knies earned the complete game victory by surrendering just three hits while not allowing an earned run.
Ratterman finished 4-for-4 at the plate while Greenwell, Werner and
Hannah Webb each collected two hits in the game.
The Knights (5-9) conclude their trip to Grand Park tomorrow playing an unconventional doubleheader against West Virginia State at noon. The double dip is unconventional in that each team will be the home team for one of the games.
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