LOUISVILLE, Ky.— Bellarmine softball fell twice to ASUN pre-season favorite Liberty at Knights Field on Friday afternoon.
The Flames took game one 7-0 and were victorious 14-3 (five innings) in game two. With the two wins, Liberty moved to 8-0 in ASUN action, while the Knights dropped to 1-7.
Game 1
The first few innings of the first contest were tight as neither side was able to score through three. Bellarmine starter Carson Goatley retired the first six batters she faced and blanked Liberty in the third despite two batters reaching.
The Flames' fortunes changed starting in the fourth, when Lou Allan and Denay Griffin blasted back-to-back doubles to give Liberty a 1-0 lead. In the fifth, Liberty added two more thanks to a Devyn Howard walk and Caroline Hudson two-run home run that barely elevated above the left-center field fence.
With a 3-0 advantage, Liberty put the game out of reach in the sixth inning. The Flames compiled five hits and scored all four runs in the inning with two outs. Raigan Barrett, Howard, and Hudson all had RBI hits.
The Knights had their best chance to score in the first inning. Alexis Hargrove picked up the first hit for Bellarmine with a single down the left field line, while Chloe Collins blasted a double further down the left field line to the fence. With runners on second and third, the Knights were unable to plate either runner. Bellarmine had hits spread out the remainder of the game but were ultimately shut out.
Chloe Collins continues to bat well in her freshman campaign, as she went 2-2 with a walk in game one. Along with Collins and Hargrove, Joelle Zielinski and Olivia Bricker had the other hits for the Knights.
Goatley lasted 5.2 innings, while Megan Murphy pitched the final 1.1 innings for the Knights. Karlie Keeney pitched six innings for Liberty, securing her 13th win of the season.
Game 2:
The second game was won in the second inning for Liberty, as the Flames scored nine in the frame. Home runs from KC Machado, Allan, and Kara Canetto helped expand the lead from 1-0 to 10-0. Overall, Liberty compiled eight hits, including four extra-base hits, while Bellarmine committed one error in the inning.
The Knights were unable to produce a hit until the fifth when the offense came alive. Abby Shipley singled to left field, while Anna Greenwell singled with one out. Emily O'Dee's fielder's choice ground ball scored Shipley. Hannah Webb was hit by a pitch, and Chloe Collins delivered a two-RBI base hit to score the second and third runs for the Knights.
Collins ended the day with three total hits and two RBIs, pushing her batting average to .286 for the season.
Claire Lehmkuhler pitched 3.2 innings in game two, while Murphy again pitched 1.1 innings.
The Knights host Liberty at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday in the series finale. The game will broadcasted on BU Knights Sports Network with Suzanne Bush on the call.
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