LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bellarmine softball opened up its home schedule in style on Saturday, sweeping Green Bay and Western Michigan at Knights Field.
BU won both games by a final score of 2-1, with outstanding pitching and defense, alongside timely hitting. With the wins, Bellarmine is 6-6 this season, matching its win total from all of last season. Saturday also marked the second time in 2022 that Bellarmine won both double-header games in a single day – a feat they did not accomplish at all last year.
Game 1: Bellarmine vs. Green Bay
The Knights scored a critical early run in the first inning, and to no surprise, the rally started with Grace Werner. Bellarmine's batting average leader beat out a ground ball to second base for an infield single. Werner then stole second to move into scoring position. Hannah Webb followed with a single to left field which moved Werner to third base. With runners at the corners, Sarah Ratterman provided a crucial productive out as she drove home Werner on a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Knights carried their 1-0 lead into the third inning, when Green Bay responded. Isabella Curtin doubled to right-center, followed by an infield single from Tiffany Giese. Curtin moved to third and prime scoring position on the throw to first. Two batters later, Samantha Saloun grounded out to second base but brought in Curtin to tie the game 1-1.
The game-winning run for Bellarmine occurred in the fourth inning. Ratterman stepped up with one out and nobody on in a tie game. On the first pitch, she blasted a fly-ball to left field that carried through crisp air over the fence. Ratterman's first career home run with the Knights pushed BU ahead 2-1.
Green Bay would put the tying run on second base the next three innings, but freshman pitcher Claire Lehmkuhler and Bellarmine's defense came up with clutch pitches and clutch plays continuously. In the seventh, the Phoenix brough the go-ahead run to the plate with one out. Lehmkuhler proceeded to strike out the leadoff batter Giese looking and induce a game-ending 1-3 groundout from Randi McKay.
Lehmkuhler secured her third win of the season after another stellar complete game performance. She allowed just four hits and induced weak contact throughout the game.
Game 2: Bellarmine vs. Western Michigan
After a thirty-minute break, Bellarmine was back in action against visiting Western Michigan. The Knights beat Western Michigan twice in late February last year and did so once again on Saturday.
WMU started the scoring in the first. Maggie Kehoe reached on an error, eventually coming around to score on a sacrifice fly to left-field. The unearned run moved the Broncos in front 1-0.
Bellarmine immediately had an answer, however, with a run in the home half. Anna Greenwell drew a leadoff walk, Werner was hit by a pitch from Reily Galloway, and Hannah Webb walked to load the bases with no outs. Ratterman got the job done again, laying down a bunt single to score Greenwell and tie the game. The Knights appeared to be on their way to a big inning, but Western Michigan nabbed two outs after Werner was caught in a pickle between home and third. WMU tagged out Werner and Webb on the play before a fly-out from Alexis Hargrove to end the inning.
Bellarmine pitcher Megan Murphy was sensational the rest of the game, holding Western Michigan to just three hits the final six innings – none of which came in the same inning. With Murphy and the defense doing their job, BU needed to scrape across just one more run. That came in the home half of the sixth. Werner reached on a bunt single, stole second, and moved to third on a throwing error from Western's catcher. Webb then stepped in and slapped a ground ball to third base. The throw to first got away, however, scoring Werner and giving Bellarmine a 2-1 lead. The Knights held on for the win and the Saturday sweep.
Murphy collected her first win of the season, allowing just one run (unearned), three hits, and only two walks.
Bellarmine is back at Knights Field on Sunday with a 1:00 p.m. matchup against Green Bay and 3:00 p.m. game versus Western Michigan to wrap up the weekend. Every game can also be viewed on BU Knights Sports Network.
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