LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bellarmine softball wrapped up its weekend series with Jacksonville State on Sunday, falling to the Gamecocks in a doubleheader at Knights Field.
Jacksonville State emerged victorious in game one by a final score of 6-0 and took game two 14-4 in five innings.
Game One
After a scoreless pair of innings to start the day, JSU broke through in the third with an Ashley Phillips double down the left field line. The Gamecocks added another pair in the fourth and one run in the fifth, sixth, and seventh.
JSU held a 10-2 edge in hits, including four doubles in the first contest. Bellarmine's two hits came from Anna Greenwell, who singled left-center in the first inning, and Addison Kerr, who claimed a pinch-hit single up the middle in the sixth.
Claire Lehmkuhler turned in a solid performance in the circle for Bellarmine, allowed three earned runs over five innings.
Sarah Currie notched the complete game win for Jacksonville State with six strikeouts.
Game Two
The second game of the day began in a completely different fashion. Jacksonville State posted six runs in the top half of the first inning with three hits, three hit-by-pitches, one walk, and the help of a Bellarmine error.
The Knights responded, however, with four runs in the home half of the inning. Alexis Hargrove and Megan Konermann both walked, eventually advancing to second and third on a wild pitch. Chloe Collins then delivered a two-RBI single to drive in the first two runs of the game. Alyssa Brock drew a walk, and joined Collins on the basepaths. With two outs, Olivia Bricker pounded a double to left-center field, cutting the lead to 6-4.
JSU added two more runs in the second with a home run from Lindsey Richardson and RBI double from Hannah Buffington.
The score remained 8-4 until the fourth inning, when Jacksonville State put up another crooked number. The Gamecocks totaled three hits, walked twice, and were helped by three errors.
Bellarmine's best chance to score outside of the first inning was the third, when BU loaded the bases with two outs thanks to an Emily O'Dee single and a pair of walks.
JSU outhit Bellarmine 11-4 in game two. Three of the Gamecocks' runs were unearned. The Knights drew seven walks but left seven runners on base.
Carson Goatley, Claire Lehmkuhler, and Elli Jensen all pitched for Bellarmine in game two, while Jordan Eslinger captured the win for JSU with three shutout innings of relief.
Bellarmine travels to Tennessee Tech on Wednesday for a midweek non-conference matchup. First pitch is at 3:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. CT) in Cookeville.
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