LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The Bellarmine softball team split a pair of games on Saturday at Knights Field, falling  7-1 to the University of Dayton before claiming a 7-5 decision over the IUPUI Jaguars.
 
In the 11 a.m. game, the Knights plated a run in the bottom of the first when freshman Carson Goatley singled home Hannah Webb who had rapped a single up the middle earlier in the inning. However, those two base hits would represent half of Bellarmine's total for the game as Dayton pitcher Sarah Bailitz would settle down and allowed just five baserunners the final six innings.
 
Bellarmine appeared to have gotten a break in the top of the second inning.  After a leadoff walk, Dayton's Morgan Mateja uncorked a shot that cleared the left field fence. However, she failed to touch home plate on her trot around the bases, and was ruled out, reducing her 2-run homer to an RBI triple.
 
In the end, it didn't matter as the Flyers struck for the go ahead—and eventual winning run—in the top of the fourth then tacked on two more scores in the sixth and closed with a 3-run seventh.
 
Against the Jaguars, the Knights opened the game with a quick two-run lead when an IUPUI error allowed Grace Werner and Alexis Hargrove to score.
 
Then, it was a Bellarmine error that led to the Jaguars tying the game at 2-2 in the third inning. However, the Knights quickly re-established a lead on an RBI single by Hattie Hartman in the home half of the inning only to see IUPUI tie it in the top of the fourth.
 
The Knights finally broke it open in the bottom of the fourth, striking for four runs to take a 7-3 lead. Sydney Young's two-RBI double and a two-run homer by Hargrove were the key hits in the inning.
 
Neither team scored until the Jaguars made a comeback bid in the top of the seventh.  Three Bellarmine walks along with a double and a sacrifice fly led to a pair of runs.  With the bases loaded and two outs, Bellarmine Coach Renee Hicks called Goatley into pitch, and the freshman hurler met the challenge, retiring the only batter she faced to record her first collegiate save and give Bellarmine the victory.
 
For the game, Hartman was 3-for-3 at the plate while Hargrove and Werner each had two hits. Natalie Magnus picked up the win in the circle going six and two-thirds innings and allowing four earned runs.
 
Bellarmine returns to action against the same two teams on Sunday.  The Knights are scheduled to play Dayton at 1 p.m. and IUPUI 30 minutes following the conclusion of that game.