HUNTINGTON, W.Va.-- The Bellarmine Knights softball team split its doubleheader with Marshall University today, taking game one by a score of 3-1 and dropping the nightcap 5-3. The game one victory broke the Knights out of a 10-game losing streak.
The impact of Grace Werner's return to the lineup from an injury was immediately felt as her third inning single preceded by a Carley Ziegler hit by pitch allowed the first run of the game to score on a throwing error by Marshall left fielder Grace Chelemen.
The Herd were held in check until a leadoff double in the bottom of the fifth by second basemen Madison Whitaker set the stage for Grace Chelemen to make amends for her costly error with an RBI single to right field. Bellarmine ace Carson Goatley was able to strand the baserunner and escape the inning with no further damage.
Goatley would go the distance for the Knights in the circle, giving up just one earned run and striking out six. Goatley picked up her fourth win of the season in her sixth complete game effort. For Marshall, sophomore Cailey Joyce delivered a complete game of her own, striking out seven and walking two.
With the game tied going into the seventh, Bellarmine appeared to have a picture-perfect start to the final frame after a Carley Ziegler line drive to left-center field, but she was cut down trying to stretch two bases into three. A clutch two out walk from Grace Werner brought senior Alexis Hargrove to the plate with the game on the line and she delivered in a big way, launching a two-run blast over the left field wall.
Marshall grabbed an early game two lead on the strength of a two-run bomb from shortstop Sierra Huerta. The Knights countered with a shot of their own in the top of the third off the bat of sophomore Olivia Bricker, her first home run of the year. Bellarmine added another run in the frame after a walk and a stolen base by Grace Werner gave Hannah Webb an opportunity to bring her home with a two-out RBI single.
With the game tied at three in the bottom of the sixth, back-to-back RBI singles from third baseman Blakely Burch and Chelemen gave The Herd a lead that would end up being the difference in the game.
The Knights turned to Megan Murphy in the circle for game two, who worked three innings and allowed three earned runs and added a strikeout. Marshall starter Ashley Blessin also gave up three in three innings work on just two hits.
Bellarmine will aim to take the series in Sunday's rubber match with first pitch from Dot Hicks Field scheduled for noon.
