CONWAY, Ark.—Offense was hard to come by for the Bellarmine Knights on Saturday as they dropped both games of an ASUN Conference doubleheader at Central Arkansas, falling 5-2 in the opener and 3-0 in game two as BU managed just nine base hits on the day.
In game one, the Knights drew first blood, plating a run in the top of the second on a sacrifice fly off the bat of
Abby Shipley to score
Chloe Collins, who had singled to lead off the frame.
The Sugar Bears did the majority of their damage in the bottom of the third, crossing the plate four times as they combined timely hitting with a pair of walks. Reagan Sperling delivered the big blow, a two-out, two-RBI double to give UCA a 4-1 lead.
The home team increased its lead to 5-1 with a solo homer by Kristen Whitehouse in the sixth inning.
A late Bellarmine rally came up well short, but the Knights did manage a second run in the top of the seventh. After the Knights loaded the bases,
Anna Greenwell singled home
Olivia Bricker with two outs to trim the deficit to 5-2. However, Bellarmine left the sacks full as the final out was recorded on an infield pop-up.
Game two was the Jordan Johnson show as the junior right-hander tossed a complete game 3-hitter for the Sugar Bears, striking out 12 and issuing no walks. With Johnson's mastery, only one Bellarmine baserunner reached second base in the game.
The Knights'
Claire Lehmkuhler also gave a solid effort in the pitching circle going the distance while surrendering just three runs. Two of the three runs came in the bottom of the third as UCA took advantage of two bases on balls with a pair of singles. The final Sugar Bear run came in the bottom of the sixth on the only extra base hit of the game—a solo homer by Morgan Nelson.
On the day, two Knights recorded two hits with
Hannah Webb and Collins each recording a hit in both games.
Bellarmine falls to 10-28 on the season and 1-10 in league play. Central Arkansas improves to 21-15, 6-5 ASUN.
The teams will conclude their three-game series with a single game tomorrow at Farris Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. (noon CT).
For more coverage of Bellarmine athletics, follow us on Twitter (@BUKnights), Instagram (BUKnights), and Facebook (BUKnights).
