LOUISVILLE, Ky.— Bellarmine softball fell to Green Bay and Western Michigan on Sunday at Knights Field, resulting in an overall 2-2 record for BU's first homestand.
The Knights dropped their first game against Green Bay by a final score of 10-1 and lost to WMU 7-0. The Phoenix and Broncos each got victories after Bellarmine won both of its games on Saturday 2-1.
The competition proved to be about as even as possible, as each team ended the weekend with two wins and two losses.
Game 1: Bellarmine vs. Green Bay
Green Bay capitalized early against the Knights, and Bellarmine wasn't able to take advantage of its chances while still within striking distance. Tiffany Giese started GB's offense with a walk in the first inning, later scoring on a wild pitch. Jadin Justman joined her on the base paths, and eventually came home thanks to a Greta Thompson RBI single – that gave Green Bay a 2-0 lead right away.
Isabella Curtin added to the lead with an RBI single in the second inning that scored Gracie Peterson.
Down 3-0 in the third inning, Bellarmine looked to have a strong chance to rally. Olivia Bricker and Anna Greenwell led off with back-to-back singles. That brought up Bellarmine's batting average leader Grace Werner, who smacked a line drive towards center field. The ball was caught, however, and Bricker was doubled up at second base for a quick two outs.
The Knights did scrape across one run in the fourth thanks to a Green Bay error, but the Phoenix piled on six runs in the top of the fifth in route to a run-rule victory.
The Knights used all three of their primary available pitchers – Claire Lehmkuhler, Megan Murphy, and Kaylee Terral. Impressive Green Bay freshman Abigail Gawlinski improved to 4-0 this season, allowing six hits in four innings.
Game 2: Bellarmine vs. Western Michigan
Following a quick first inning, Western Michigan used three big innings spaced out over the game to top the Knights in the final game of the weekend.
The Broncos loaded the bases in the second with two singles and a walk, leading to three runs. Rissa Bajusz scored on a wild pitch, a fielder's choice ground-out scored another, and Lauren Porter's RBI double pushed WMU ahead 3-0.
With runners and second and third with two outs in the top of the fourth inning, Cassidy Brendtke came up with the game-breaking hit for Western, bringing home two runs with a RBI single. The Broncos tacked on two more in the sixth as well.
Despite several hits, Bellarmine was unable to advance any runner past second base. Freshman Megan Konermann ended the game 2-3 with a laser double to right-center field, marking Konermann's first career multi-hit game.
Lehmkuhler started for the second consecutive game, while Murphy pitched in relief for the second straight game as well. Bajusz nabbed her first win of the season in the circle for Western Michigan.
Bellarmine quickly returns to the diamond on Tuesday with a doubleheader at UT-Martin. The first game begins at 2:00 p.m. ET with the second game scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET.
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