LYNCHBURG, Va.—The Bellarmine softball team pushed ASUN North Division leader Liberty to the limit, but the homestanding Flames pulled out a narrow 2-1 victory over the Knights in a conference game on Monday afternoon.
Just a day after being swept in the doubleheader and getting run-ruled both games, Bellarmine came out ready for action today and matched the high-powered Liberty offense with six hits on the day as Knights hurler
Megan Murphy turned in an excellent performance in the circle.
Murphy worked her way out of a tough bases-loaded and one out jam in the bottom of the first. She first got a big strikeout then induced a fly ball out from Emily Sweat, who was coming off a six-RBI day in yesterday's doubleheader.
Bellarmine actually was the first team to touch home plate, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth.
Hattie Hartman opened the frame by blistering a shot down the left field line that went for a double, then gave way to pinch runner
Caitlyn Watson. From there, the Knights played "small ball" to perfection. Catcher
Sydney Young laid down a text book sacrifice bunt, and
Mary Jessica Thomson then lifted a fly ball to deep left field that scored Watson easily.
Unfortunately for the Knights, the lead did not last long. After a strikeout in the home half of the inning, Madison Via drew a walk and raced around from first to score on Karlie Keeney's double to left center. Autumn Bishop then hit a laser right back at the pitcher that Murphy was able to deflect with her glove, but the smash still went as a single. After a stolen base put runners at second and third, Murphy was able to get ASUN home run and RBI leader Amber Bishop-Riley out on a grounder to short.
From there, the task didn't get any easier for Murphy, who then squared off against the ASUN's hitting leader, Kara Canetto. However, before Murphy retired Canetto on a routine pop-up to second base, a pitch in the dirt skittered past Young and all the way to the backstop allowing Keeney to score the go-ahead run.
While Bellarmine threatened with a couple of more base hits, Liberty relief pitchers Megan Johnson and McKenzie Wagoner were able to keep the Knights off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game as the Flames held on for the 2-1 win.
Murphy, who was backed up by a solid defense in today's game, went the distance for the Knights, throwing six innings and giving up just six hits and two runs while issuing four walks and striking out three.
Grace Werner and
Hannah Webb paced the Bellarmine offense with two hits apiece.
The Flames extend their win streak to 12 games as they improve to 33-12 overall and 13-2 in the ASUN. Bellarmine slips to 6-29, 0-15 ASUN.
The Knights wrap up their 2021 season this weekend with a road trip to Nashville to take on Lipscomb. Bellarmine and the Bisons will play an evening doubleheader on Saturday with a single game scheduled for Sunday at noon.
