LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The Bellarmine softball team swung back into action on Wednesday for the first time in 10 days, and the Knights didn't miss a beat, sweeping a doubleheader from Kentucky Wesleyan at Knights Field by the scores of 8-2 and 7-5.
In both contests, the Knights scored early then held off the Panthers in the late innings.
Shelby Kelley was a major factor in both wins for Bellarmine. In the opener, she was the winning pitcher and went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI. In game two, Kelley knocked in three runs with a bases loaded double, then tossed three and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief.
The victories propelled the Knights to 11-9 on the season while Kentucky Wesleyan drops to 5-16.
Bellarmine opens Great Lakes Valley Conference play on Friday when the Knights host McKendree in a twin bill starting at 2 p.m. The doubleheader was scheduled for Saturday but has been moved up to avoid rain in the forecast for Saturday.
GAME 1: BU 8, KWC 2 (
HTM BOX SCORE)
The Knights got off to a hot start, scoring three runs in the first inning and duplicating that run production in the second inning. Bellarmine made it 8-0 in the bottom of the third.
The Panthers avoided the 8-run "mercy rule" when first baseman Abbey Winstead popped a two-run homer in the top of the fourth. Neither team scored in their final three at-bats as Bellarmine held on for the 8-2 win.
Bellarmine's first inning runs were fueled by a pair of batters getting hit by a pitch with
Grace Werner and
Sarah Ratterman picking up the only two base knocks of the inning. Ratterman's was the biggest run-producer, driving in two.
The following inning, Bellarmine's bats came to life for four base hits to accompany a leadoff walk.
Alexis Hargrove smoked a double to the wall in left center to knock in two runs in the frame, and Kelley followed with a double of her own to drive in Hargrove and extend the score to 6-0.
Bellarmine's final two runs came in the third. Ratterman drew a walk to lead off the inning, and
Samantha Smith hit a laser down the left line that went for a double to score Ratterman from first. After an error put runners on the corner,
Anna Greenwell took off in an attempt to steal second base, and when she got caught in a rundown, Smith took off for home and avoided the tag for the rare steal of home.
Kelley threw the first five innings in the circle and surrendered just four hits in picking up the win as Fussenegger hurled two innings in relief to close out the game.
GAME 2: BU 7, KWC 5 (
HTM BOX SCORE)
Again, the Knights broke open with a strong first inning, plating four runs. Fussenegger led off with a double to the base of the fence in left center and scored on a Greenwell single. After
Hannah Webb singled to put runners on the corners,
Rachel Ayer smacked a double to drive in both baseurnners. Catcher
Sydney Young provided the final RBI of the inning when her single to left drove in Ayer.
After KWC got one of those runs back in the top of the second, Bellarmine answered with three runs in the home half of the frame when Kelley stroked a bases-loaded double to right center, driving in Greenwell, Werner and Fussenegger.
The Panthers battled back with three runs in the top of the third, but the Knights avoided a huge inning by recording the third out with bases loaded. The visitors then got within 7-5 in the top of the fourth on a solo homer by Lexie Mullen.
However, both offenses ran out of gas in the late innings combining for just three hits in the final three innings.
Fussenegger picked up the pitching win after she came on in relief of starter
Olivia Knies, and Kelley worked the final 3.2 innings to pick up her second save of the season.
