COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – All hits are important, but some have extra meaning attached to them. Chloe Collins' three-run home run against Indiana State on Sunday was quite meaningful. The homer gave Bellarmine an 8-7 victory and snapped a nine-game losing streak.
Bellarmine fell 10-1 to host Tennessee Tech in game one but battled back against Indiana State to split the opening day of the Golden Eagle Classic.
Game 1: Bellarmine vs. Tennessee Tech
Game one started well for Bellarmine, but that success did not last for too long as Tennessee Tech scored in all five innings.
The Knights took an early 1-0 lead thanks to a lot of traffic on the base-paths. Grace Werner led off with a single, followed by a fielder's choice that allowed Alexis Hargrove to reach with one out. Hannah Webb then doubled down the left field line pushing Hargrove to third base. Sarah Ratterman drove in Hargrove with an RBI single to right field.
Bellarmine was unable to generate much more offense the rest of the game, being held to one hit the next four innings. Tennessee Tech progressively grew its lead with one run in the first, one in the second, two in the third, two in the fourth, and four in the fifth to end the game in a run-rule. DH Abby Buettner went 3-5 with 5 RBI and two home runs for the Golden Eagles.
Werner had two singles, while Webb's double and Ratterman's base knock were the only other hits for Bellarmine in game one.
Claire Lehmkuhler pitched the first 3.1 innings, while Megan Murphy pitched the final inning for the Knights. Alyssa Arden went the distance for Tennessee Tech, striking out just two, but allowing only four hits.
Game 2: Bellarmine vs. Indiana State
The second game of the afternoon for Bellarmine was back and forth the final three innings. Indiana State, however, controlled the first four innings.
The Sycamores struck quickly with a two-RBI double from Isabella Henning in the top of the first inning. Lexie Siwek singled in the fourth to advance Indiana State's lead to 3-0. Bellarmine's best chance to score in the first four innings was the home half of the third, when the Knights started the inning with base hits from Carly Ziegler and Werner. Bellarmine entered the bottom of the fifth, however, trailing by three. Then, the Knights got to work.
Ziegler walked to begin the inning, and Werner followed with a double to left field. Kayla Bauer came through with a clutch two-RBI single to cut the lead to 3-2. Webb picked up a single to second base and Ratterman singled to left field to tie the game 3-3. The first five Bellarmine batters reached in the third inning. Carson Goatley's one-out single up the middle to score Webb put the Knights in front 4-3.
Indiana State did not stay quiet for long, dropping a three-spot in the top of the sixth inning. With four hits, including a pair of RBI singles and a sacrifice fly, Indiana State pushed back in front 6-4.
Bellarmine got an important run back in the bottom of the sixth with a Bauer solo homer to left center field. The home run was Bauer's first of her career and her second hit of the day. The Knights were behind 6-5 going into the seventh inning.
Bella Peterson's home run in the seventh gave Indiana State a 7-5 lead moving to the final half inning. Ratterman got the rally started with a single through the left side. Lehmkuhler was then hit by a pitch with one out to bring the winning run to the plate in consecutive at-bats. With two outs, Ratterman on second base, and Lehmkuhler on first, Chloe Collins smoked a walk-off home run to left field to hand Bellarmine an 8-7 win.
The victory marked Bellarmine's second walk-off win of the season – Werner stole home to give Bellarmine a 3-2 win over Maryland Eastern-Shore exactly one month ago on Feb. 13. Collins' home run was the first of her career.
Ratterman led Bellarmine with three hits, while Werner and Bauer ended with two each.
Goatley pitched 6.2 innings for Bellarmine, and Lehmkuhler got the final out in the seventh for the Knights. Lehmkuhler was awarded the win – her fourth win of the season.
The Knights are back in action on Monday to conclude the Golden Eagle Classic. Bellarmine faces Tennessee Tech again at 11:00 a.m. ET followed by a 1:30 p.m. ET matchup with Quinnipiac.
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