LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The Bellarmine softball made its shortest road trip of the year on Tuesday traveling four miles west to take on the Louisville Cardinals in a single game at Ulmer Stadium at 6 p.m.
The host Cardinals (7-7) protected the home turf with an 8-1 victory behind a balanced attack and solid pitching performances. Louisville leadoff batter Camryn Greenwood proved to be a tough out for the Knights as the UofL left fielder belted a homer and a triple on her way to a 2-for-4 night with a pair of RBIs. Other offensive leaders for the Cardinals included Jordyn Wolfe (2-for-3, 2z RBI), and Taryn Weddle (1-for2, 2 RBI).
In the circle, Louisville's Taylor Roby picked up the win, hurling four shutout innings and giving up just four hits. She was relieved by Jennifer Leonhart, who finished out the game by allowing a run on two hits while striking out six.
The Knights (4-8) were led at the plate by
Hannah Webb and
Carley Ziegler who both went 2-for-3. Webb chalked up Bellarmine's lone RBI while
Grace Werner was the only Knight to cross home plate.
Bellarmine also utilized two pitchers with
Carson Goatley logging two and a third innings and
Megan Murphy throwing the final three and two-thirds. Both Bellarmine pitchers surrendered four runs (all earned).
Louisville opened the scoring in the second inning when Makayla Hurst struck for a solo homer. The long ball also gave the Cardinals their next two runs when Camryn Greenwood smacked a two-run shot in the third inning.
The home team extended its lead to 6-0 with three runs in the fourth with Wolfe's two-run single being the key hit in the frame.
Bellarmine finally broke through for a run in the top of the fifth when Werner led off with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored easily on Webb's double to the power alley in left center. Leonhardt quickly squelched a comeback attempt by striking out the next three Knights on just 12 pitches.
The Cardinals closed out the scoring by adding two more runs in the bottom of the fifth with Weddle driving in both runs on a single up the middle.
Bellarmine, which opened the season with 11 straight home games, now embarks on a true road trip as they travel to Florence, Alabama this weekend to open ASUN Conference play against the University of North Alabama. The Knights and Lions will play a doubleheader on Saturday, March 13 with a single game the following day.
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