ST. LOUIS—The Bellarmine softball team finished off its regular season with a pair of road losses as host Saint Louis University swept a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday by the scores of 4-0 and 5-4.
Game one saw a lack of offense from the Knights that simply didn't give them a chance to win. With just four hits, the Knights only put a runner in scoring position four times and never reached third.
Meanwhile, the Billikens provided themselves with just enough to win by a comfortable 4-0 margin. After a first inning Bellarmine error, SLU scored an unearned run to get on the board. Then in the third frame, a single along with a sacrifice and ground out set the stage for a sacrifice fly to make it the score 2-0.
The knockout blow was delivered in the fifth inning when Billiken left fielder Gabbie Kowalik connected for a two-run homer.
Bellarmine pitcher
Natalie Magnus was mostly effective against the SLU lineup, delivering a complete game and surrendering just six hits and three earned run.
Game two was a heartbreaker for the Knights as they saw a 4-3 lead evaporate in the bottom of seventh and SLU snatched a comeback victory 5-4.
The Billikens got off to a good start in the second game as catcher Alyssa Chavez delivered a two-run double to give the host team an early lead.
Bellarmine battled back with a run in the second inning when
Alexis Hargrove scored on a wild pitch after drawing a leadoff walk and getting sacrificed to third on a
Carley Ziegler sacrifice bunt.
The Knights gave that run back in the bottom of the third, however, when a Bellarmine error led to another run to make the margin two again at 3-1.
Next, it was the Knights' turn to take advantage of an error as a Billiken miscue lead to three Bellarmine runs in the top of the fifth to give the visitors a 4-3 lead. After a leadoff strikeout,
Grace Werner laid down a bunt and beat it out for a single, and she then swiped second base to put a runner in scoring position. Another Bellarmine strikeout brought
Hannah Webb to the plate with two outs, and she put the ball in play, but the St. Louis shortstop couldn't make the play, and Werner scored on the error.
Hattie Hartman drew a walk, and Hargrove came through with a two-out, two-run double as her drive to left center plated both Webb and Hartman.
The Knights couldn't make the lead hold up, though.
In the seventh inning, the Billikens got a lead off walk and a sacrifice bunt put the tying run on second. Sadie Wise then hit a clutch triple to tie the game. After a walk to Kowalik, Chavez drove in her fourth run of the day with a walk-off, sacrifice fly to center field.
The Knights fall to 6-31 overall while SLU improves to 19-25.
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