LOUISVILLE, Ky.—A late comeback by the Bellarmine Knights softball team came up one run short as the visiting Kennesaw State Owls hung on for a 6-5 victory in an ASUN Conference game at Knights Field on Sunday afternoon. 
 
The Knights fell behind 6-0 as the Owls steadily built the lead with two runs in both the second and fourth innings and scoring once in the third and fifth. 
 
Bellarmine came charging back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth.  Hattie Hartman opened the frame by rifling a shot down the right field line that ticked off the glove of Marcela Lopez and skittered into the right field corner for a stand-up double.  After the Owls recorded two outs, Grace Werner hit one up the middle for a single to drive in Hartman.  Werner then swiped second base and scored when Anna Greenwell's grounder to second couldn't be corralled by KSU's Christen Florence.  Hannah Webb then stroked a shot to right center that bounded all the way to the fence, and Greenwell scored from first as her headfirst slide just beat the throw to the plate to cut the Owls' lead in half at 6-3.
 
After a scoreless top of the sixth, the Knights inched within just a single run by scoring twice in the home half.  Pinch hitter Alexis Hargrove started the rally with a bunt single and Hartman followed with a hard shot up the middle to put runners on first and second for center fielder Carley Ziegler.  The Bellarmine junior delivered in the clutch, ripping a double to left center to drive in both Hargrove and Hartman.
 
The Owls (20-19, 10-2 ASUN) then went to their bullpen, and yesterday's game one starter—Melanie Bennett—entered the game and recorded the final two outs of the inning.
 
After holding Kennesaw State scoreless in the seventh, Webb smashed a one-out single to right field to bring the potential game-winning run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh.  However, Bennett retired the next two batters to record her third save of the season and dash the hopes of a Bellarmine comeback.
 
For the game, the Knights outhit the Owls 9-7, but the Bellarmine pitchers walked seven batters to give KSU plenty of baserunners. In fact, KSU left 10 runners on base to just six for the Knights.  The loss drops Bellarmine to 6-24 (0-10 ASUN) in its inaugural season at the NCAA Division I level.
 
Prior to the game, a senior recognition was held to honor Olivia Knies, Natalie Magnus and Mary Jessica Thomson, who all were in today's starting lineup.
 
While today's game was the last regularly scheduled home contest of the season, Bellarmine will have one more home date as the Knights will play a makeup doubleheader with Lipscomb at Knights Field on Wednesday.  (Due to weather concerns, that game could get pushed up to Tuesday, so watch for subsequent announcements about that doubleheader.)