COLUMBUS, Ohio--The Bellarmine softball team returned to action for the first time in a week, and the rest must have been good for the Knights as they earned a doubleheader sweep of the Ohio Dominican Panthers on Sunday at Berliner Park.

Bellarmine recorded a pair of shutouts in picking up the wins--a 3-0 decision in game one and a 9-0 victory in five innings in game two.

Sophomore pitcher Shelby Kelley not only picked up the complete game shutout in the first contest, but she also drove in the winning run.  That run came in the top of the first when Sabrina Fussenegger drew a leadoff walk then advanced to third on a base hit by Grace Werner and a sacrifice bunt by Alexis Hargrove.  Kelley then stroked a single to left to put the Knights up 1-0.

Although the one run would be all that Bellarmine would need, Fussenegger provided a little insurance in the top of the second, smacking a two-run homer driving in herself and Sarah Ratterman, who had singled. That would end the game's scoring.

Kelley's final pitching line showed seven hits in seven innings while walking two and striking out five. She also recorded a multi-hit game at the plate going 2-for-4 with the one RBI. Werner collected three of the Knights' seven hits, going 3-for-4 in the game.

Game two started slowly on the offensive end, with Bellarmine plating an unearned run in the top of the second.  However, the Knights got their bats heated up in the third, exploding for five runs and six hits.  Rachel Ayer provided the biggest poke by hitting a three-run homer.  

The Knights stayed hot in the fourth frame.  Fussenegger and Werner singled to start the inning, and Hargrove drilled the Knights' second 3-run homer of the game to make the score 9-0.

Meanwhile, Knies was getting the job done in the circle.  Although she issued five walks and hit a batter, she allowed just four base hits in picking up the five-inning shutout. 

Hargrove turned in a 4-for-4 performance with four RBIs with Fussenegger adding three base hits and Werner, Kelley and Ayer adding two hits apiece.

With the sweep, the Knights improve to 9-9 on the season while Ohio Dominican falls to 4-8.

Bellarmine is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday with a doubleheader at Kentucky State.

BOX SCORE GAME 1 (HTM)

BOX SCORE GAME 2 (HTM)