COLUMBUS, Ga.—Bellarmine split a pair of games on Saturday at the CSU Classic hosted by Columbus State University.  The Knights opened with a 9-6 loss to the host Cougars but came back with a 10-1 victory over Shorter University in the tourney's third game of the day.
 
In the opener, the Knights fell behind early as Columbus State plated a run in the first and two in the second to take a 3-0 lead.  Meanwhile Cougar hurler Harley Dawson was cruising, retiring the first six batters she faced.  The Knights finally got on base in the top of the third and scratched out a run on a sacrifice fly by Sabrina Fussenegger.
 
Trailing 4-1 heading to the sixth inning, the Knights found some more offense.  Grace Werner singled to open the inning and scored on Alexis Hargrove's single.  Then, Hargrove came around to score on a single by catcher Sydney Young to get the Knights within one at 4-3.
 
However, the Cougars rallied with five runs in the home half of the inning to pull out to a 9-3 advantage.
 
Fighting to the end, the Knights loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, and Hargrove drove in all three baserunners with double to left center.  However, the Knights rally ended there, and the Cougars hung on for the win.
 
Hargrove paced the Knights at the plate, going 2-for-4 with four RBI, while Werner finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
 
Megan Murphy got the start in the circle and was saddled with the loss with Olivia Knies and Natalie Magnus both working in relief.
 
HTM BOX SCORE (BU vs CBU)
 
Playing as the home team in their second game of the day, the Knights had to wait a half inning before continuing to pile up the runs. 
 
The Knights retired the Hawks in order after leadoff batter Sydney Poston got an infield single but was gunned down by Young trying to steal.
 
When Bellarmine did get their offensive turn, it didn't take long to strike.  Fussenegger was hit by a pitch and Werner drew a walk to start the frame.  Then after a Hannah Webb sacrifice bunt, Hargrove delivered another strong blow, belting a homer over the left field fence to stake the Knights to an early 3-run lead.
 
However, it was the second inning that Bellarmine did the most damage, erupting for seven runs on just six hits.  Five different players drove in runs with Fussenegger, Hargrove and Shelby Kelley knocking in one apiece while Werner and Young collected two RBIs each.
 
Shorter finally got on the board in the third inning, taking advantage of a Bellarmine error to plate an unearned run.
 
Bellarmine went down in order in the third and left two runners on in the fourth inning, but with a nine-run advantage, the Knights were able to end the game after just four and a half innings. 
 
Fussenegger pitched the first four innings to pick up the win while not allowing any earned runs and striking out three.  Freshman Kaylee Terral worked the fifth inning to close out the game allowing just one baserunner while ringing up one strikeout.
 
HTM BOX SCORE (BU-Shorter)
 
The Knights are back in action tomorrow at the CSU Classic.  They'll play the first two games of the day, facing Union University (TN) at 10 a.m. before taking on No. 5 Young Harris College at noon.
 
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