CLARKSVILLE, Tenn.— Bellarmine softball opened its weekend at the Governors Classic with a pair of losses on Friday afternoon. The Knights fell to both Northern Iowa and Northern Illinois by a final score of 3-0 in their first two games of the invitational.
Game 1: Bellarmine vs Northern Iowa
Carson Goatley returned to the circle for Bellarmine in game one, and turned in a solid performance. The offense was unable to provide run support, however, leading to the shutout loss. Despite drawing a pair of walks, Bellarmine's first hit did not come until the fifth inning.
Northern Iowa scored all three of its runs by that point, starting in the first inning. With back-to-back singles from Mya Dodge and Sammy Moss, Madison Parks sent a sacrifice fly to left field which scored Dodge. In the third inning, Dodge delivered a solo shot to left-center field to put Northern Iowa ahead 2-0. The Panthers captured their final run in the fourth inning thanks to a Moss RBI single.
Megan Konermann had the lone hit for Bellarmine with a single to right field. Konermann has been one of Bellarmine's most successful batters recently with five hits in her last six games. After two walks in the seventh inning, Bellarmine brought up the tying run twice but was unable to convert.
Goatley went all six innings for Bellarmine allowing three runs on seven hits. Kailyn Packard tossed a one-hit complete game for UNI.
Game 2: Bellarmine vs. Northern Illinois
Bellarmine faced another 'Northern' team in game two and unfortunately came up short by the same final score.
This game was much tighter despite the same result. The Knights totaled seven hits and held a scoreless tie entering the fifth inning. NIU used a big fifth, however, to break the game open and ultimately take the victory. Amberly Rodriguez walked and stole second to start the inning. Mackenzie Mahy followed with a double to right field that pushed Rodriguez to third. Designated player Kacie Quick came up with the hit of the game, singling up the middle to score two runs and put the Huskies up for good. A RBI double from Kara Apato provided insurance later that inning.
The Knights simply were unable to string hits together until the seventh inning. Bellarmine tallied three consecutive singles to load the bases with one out, putting the tying run at first base. Claire Norred, however, answered by inducing a game-ending 5-3 double play.
Hannah Webb led Bellarmine going 3-4 at the plate – her second three-hit game of the season. Grace Werner, Anna Greenwell, Konermann, and Alexis Hargrove also tallied hits.
Claire Lehmkuhler was very strong in the circle until NIU's rally. Lehmkuhler turned in six innings, allowing three runs and seven hits, with three strikeouts. Emily Dato received the win for NIU, tossing the first 6.1 innings, while Norred got the final two outs for the save.
Bellarmine plays the same two teams tomorrow in the Governors Classic, beginning with Northern Illinois at 11:30 a.m. The second game against Northern Iowa starts at 7:00 p.m.
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