COOKEVILLE, Tenn.— After an exhilarating walk-off victory against Indiana State on Sunday night, Bellarmine softball fell twice on Monday to close out the Golden Eagle Classic hosted by Tennessee Tech.
The host Golden Eagles bested Bellarmine for the second time in as many days by a final score of 11-3 in game one. The second game against Quinnipiac was tight the entire way, but the Knights lost a heart-breaker 3-2 with Quinnipiac delivering a walk-off double.
Game 1: Bellarmine vs Tennessee Tech
Bellarmine got off to a promising start against Tennessee Tech for the second straight day, scoring one run in the top of the first inning. With a patented Grace Werner single up the middle, just moments later, she stole second base, advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher and came all the way home to score on the same play after a throwing error by the center fielder.
Unfortunately, Bellarmine was unable to create much offense behind that, totaling four hits for the game.
Tennessee Tech, in similar fashion to Sunday's game, scored three runs in the home half of the first inning. The Golden Eagles used three hits, two walks, and a Bellarmine error to spark the inning. With a single and two more walks in the second inning, Tennessee Tech pushed its lead to 5-1.
The Knights pulled themselves within striking distance in the top of the fourth thanks to the hero from last night's game – Chloe Collins. She delivered the walk-off home run that gave Bellarmine an 8-7 win over Indiana State less than 24 hours earlier, and followed it up with a two-run home run to left center field against TTU. The long ball was the second of her career and scored Sarah Ratterman to make it a 5-3 game.
The Golden Eagles added plenty of insurance the next two innings, however, and padded their lead enough to end the game after five innings.
Megan Murphy pitched the first four innings for Bellarmine, while Kaylee Terral wrangled an out before the game ended.
Tyler Erwin moved to 6-1 on the season for Tennessee Tech, allowing three runs and four hits over five innings.
Game 2: Bellarmine vs. Quinnipiac
The early innings of the second game for Bellarmine moved very quickly. Just two batters reach base through the first two innings, and both came from Bellarmine. Collins doubled down the left field line and Carson Goatley walked in the second inning, but the Knights were unable to score either of them.
Quinnipiac broke the tie in the home half of the third. Bridget Nasir sent an RBI double to left field, and Brooke Hilliard hit an RBI single to right field. The Bobcats carried that 2-0 lead until the sixth, when the Knights answered.
Kayla Bauer started the rally with a single to center field. Hannah Webb followed with a double to right-center, pushing Bauer to third base. Then, with one out, Collins came through in the clutch one again. With a single to left-center field, she scored Bauer and Webb to tie the game. Caitlyn Watson pinch-ran for Collins and advanced to second base on a single from Goatley. But the Knights could not score another run, keeping it a 2-2 game.
Bellarmine again had the go-ahead run in scoring position in the seventh inning, in the form of Bauer, but Ratterman lined out to center field to end the threat.
After two quick ground-outs in the home half of the seventh, it looked like the game was destined for extra innings. Nasir singled to left center though, and Hilliard hit a walk-off double down the left-field line to score Nasir and end the game.
Carson Goatley went the distance for Bellarmine, allowing three runs and seven hits. She posted six strikeouts, however, with only one walk. Sydney Horan allowed seven hits through seven innings, earning her first win of the season.
Bellarmine stays in Tennessee this week for a double-header against Tennessee State on Wednesday. The first game begins at 2:00 p.m. ET.
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