MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – Bellarmine softball kicked off its weekend tournament in grand fashion, winning both games on day one of The Spring Games.
 
The Knights (3-4) stormed out of the gates in game one, topping St. Bonaventure (0-1) 10-2, ending the game in the fifth inning with a run rule. Game two was a different story as Bellarmine had to battle back late to bring home the 5-4 win over Siena (4-4).
 
"I'm really proud that we got two, great team wins today," said Bellarmine head coach Caitlyn de la Haba. "Everyone stepped up when the team needed them, and it took everyone in the dugout to finish both of these games on top."
 
Game One
 
Bellarmine was in a hole early, allowing two runs in the opening frame of the game. Junior Claire Lehmkuhler limited the damage though, getting out of a bases loaded jam with back-to-back ground outs.
 
The Knights didn't stay down long though as they answered in the bottom half of the inning. Junior Harlie Bickett led the frame off with a walk before stealing second to move herself into scoring position. With one out in the inning, junior Megan Konermann lined a double into the outfield to score Bickett from second. Konermann came around to score on the following play, taking advantage of a St. Bonaventure error. Junior Chloe Collins kept the inning going with a double of her own. In the next at-bat, Collins took advantage of a second SBU error, scoring the third run of the inning to give the Knights a 3-2 lead.
 
All was quiet until the fourth inning when Bellarmine busted the game open. Grad student Olivia Bricker led the inning off with a single, stealing second in the following at-bat to move into scoring position. After two quick outs, Bickett brought Bricker home with an RBI single. Next, freshman Brooke Shewmaker notched a single of her own. In the following at-bat, Bickett stole third with Shewmaker advancing to second on the throw. Konermann then loaded up the bases after drawing a walk. Shemwell followed with a hit by pitch to bring home another run before Collins blasted a grand slam to clear the bases and put Bellarmine up 9-2.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the Knights scored another run on a St. Bonaventure error to extend their lead to eight, enough to induce a run rule and cap off a 10-2 victory.
 
In the circle, Lehmkuhler earned her second win of the season after allowing just the two runs in the first inning, recording four strikeout and just one walk in a 5.0 inning, complete game effort.
 
Game Two
 
Playing as the visiting in the second game of the day, Bellarmine did as they have done in most games this season and put up the first run of the ball game in the opening frame. The Knights loaded up the bases quickly after Bickett reached on a hit by pitch, Shewmaker reached on a walk and Konermann reached on a fielding error. Junior Serenity Shemwell stepped up next, drawing a walk of her own to bring home the first run of the contest and give Bellarmine a 1-0 lead.
 
In the top of the third inning, Collins launched her second home run of the day, a two-out solo shot to extend the lead to 2-0.
 
Siena finally answered in the home half of the third. The Saints loaded the bases with three walks before surging in front 4-2, courtesy of a grand slam.
 
The Knights continued to battle, finally breaking through again in the fifth. Shewmaker and Konermann led off the inning with back-to-back singles before successfully pulling off a double steal to put two runners in scoring position. With one out in the inning, Collins drew a walk to load the bases. Junior Mackayla Denney brought home the first run of the frame with a pinch-hit, sacrifice fly before Bricker stepped to the plate and brought home two more runs with an RBI double, pushing Bellarmine back in front, 5-4.
 
Lehmkuhler then came on to pitch for the Knights in the sixth, tossing two clean innings to secure the 5-4 win and earn her first save of the season.
 
Freshman Selena Zuniga earned the win after entering the game in the third inning to toss 2.2 innings, allowing just one hit while striking out one. The win is the first of her collegiate career.
 
"Our bats came alive today and we executed when we needed to," de la Haba said. "We also played fantastic defense to support our pitchers. All three pieces came together really well today."
 
Bellarmine will continue play in The Spring Games with another two-game slate tomorrow, Saturday, February 24. The Knights will face off against Cornell University in game one with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m. ET. Game two will follow shortly after as the Knights take on Brown University at 1:30 p.m. ET.
 
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