DELAND, Fla. – Bellarmine softball made program history on Saturday, winning its first ever Division I conference game. 
 
After quite a few close calls, the Knights (9-22, 1-4 ASUN) got it done against Stetson, taking down the Hatters 3-1 in the series opener.  Stetson took game two on Saturday by a final score of 4-0.
 
Bellarmine went 0-15 in the ASUN last season but nearly won its ASUN opener this season against Jacksonville last weekend.  BU held on this time, securing the historic victory.  In fact, this is the second Bellarmine program to win its first Division I conference game at Stetson, with the women's basketball team accomplishing the feat in Deland last season.
 
Game One
 
Bellarmine threatened in each of the first two innings, putting a runner in scoring position.  The Knights broke the ice in the third inning, with back-to-back singles from Grace Werner and Alexis Hargrove.  Werner hit yet another infield single and zoomed to third base thanks to an error from Stetson's first baseman.  Hargrove followed with a base-knock to right field to put Bellarmine up 1-0.
 
The Hatters tied the game 1-1 in the fourth inning with a clutch two-out single from Haley Fox to score Danielle Diaz. 
 
Bellarmine answered immediately in the fifth with the deciding blow.  Hargrove walked with two outs and Hannah Webb came through with the clutch hit of the day.  Webb blasted her second home run of the season over the left-field fence to give the Knights a 3-1 advantage.
 
Stetson had one more push in the seventh inning, putting runners on first and second with just one out.  Carson Goatley answered the bell, however, getting a strikeout and game-ending fielder's choice to lock up the Bellarmine win.
 
Goatley was very strong in the circle, allowing just one run on eight hits over all seven innings.  She earned her fourth win of the season and dropped her ERA to 3.89 for the year.
 
Four of Bellarmine's five hits came from the top three in the lineup – Werner, Hargrove, and Webb.  Emily O'Dee had the other hit for Bellarmine with a double in the second inning.
 
Game Two
 
Like game one, Bellarmine totaled five hits in game two, but the Knights were unable to plate any runs. 
 
BU's hits were spread out with their best chance to score coming in the fourth inning.  O'Dee singled with one out, Abby Shipley walked, and Olivia Bricker walked to load the bases.  A fielder's choice out at home and foul out to the catcher ended the inning, however, thwarting the Bellarmine threat.
 
Stetson produced six hits and early runs to help set the tone.  The Hatters plated one in the first and two in the third inning.  Five of Stetson's six hits came in the first three innings. 
 
Webb led the Knights with two hits in the second game, while Hargrove, O'Dee, and Bricker also came up with hits.  Claire Lehmkuhler pitched the first four innings for Bellarmine, while Megan Murphy pitched two shutout innings in the fifth and sixth.
 
Lauren Hobbs threw a complete game for Stetson, earning her third victory of the season.
 
Bellarmine closes out the series on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.   The action be viewed on ESPN+.
 
For more coverage of Bellarmine athletics, follow us on Twitter (@BUKnights), Instagram (BUKnights), and Facebook (BUKnights).