LOUISVILLE, Ky.— Bellarmine softball is in South Carolina again this weekend as the Knights are set to play five games at the Furman Invitational in Greenville, S.C.
 
Bellarmine starts with two neutral games on Friday against Binghamton at 11:30 a.m. and Sacred Heart at 4:30 p.m.  Saturday brings two more neutral games against Sacred heart at 9:00 a.m. and Towson at 2:00 p.m.  The Knights wrap up the weekend with a true road game against Furman at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Bellarmine is still searching for its first win of the season after dropping four games in the Pinacle Blue Hose Invitational at Presbyterian last weekend.  The Knights were close in their first game of the season, but Toledo ultimately rallied for a 6-5 win over BU.  The bats went cold from there in losses to Presbyterian (twice) and Toledo again.  Despite the defeats, first-year head coach Caitlyn de la Haba was proud of the bats after day one and pointed out the pitching improvement after day two.
 
Sophomore Chloe Collins leads Bellarmine with four hits this season (4-12) and two RBI.  Senior Alexis Hargrove is 3-11 with a pair of doubles, while freshman Ellie Alvarez is 3-10 through her first four career games.  In the circle, junior Carson Goatley has allowed just two earned runs through eight innings of action.  Sophomore Claire Lehmkuhler has a team-best 11 strikeouts in 10.1 innings pitched, including a career-high eight against Presbyterian this past Saturday.

Binghamton is off to a 1-4 start this season, including a 7-5 win over Bellarmine's fellow ASUN team Florida Gulf Coast.  Alayna Harbaugh and Shelby Carvalho lead the Bearcats with three hits each.  Binghamton was picked to finish fourth out of five teams in the America East Conference.  Sacred Heart will open its season against the Knights on Friday, and the Pioneers were picked to finish fourth in the Northeast Conference preseason poll.  Towson had its first four games at the Kickin' Chicken Classic in Conway, S.C. cancelled due to rain.  The Tigers were picked to finish eighth out of 11 teams in the Colonial Athletic Association preseason poll.   Furman is 1-2 with three of their games in Jacksonville last weekend being cancelled due to rain.  The Paladins topped Georgetown 3-2 and lost to Jacksonville 5-3 in their first two games.  Most recently, Furman fell 10-0 against no. 7 Clemson at home. 
 
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