CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Bellarmine University softball team began its 2024 season on Friday, splitting a pair of games on day one of the CSU Kickoff Tournament.
 
The Knights (1-1) came out of the gates hot, taking an early lead and holding on for a win in game one over Siena College (0-2). In similar fashion, Bellarmine took an early lead in game two against host Charleston Southern (1-1) but was unable to pull out a second win.
 
"I am really proud of the pitchers; I thought they threw really great today," said head coach Caitlyn de la Haba. "They were very efficient and threw strikes. They kept us in two really close games."
 
Game One
 
The season kicked off in exciting fashion in game one as Bellarmine sat down Siena in order in the opening frame. The Knights followed in the bottom half of the inning, loading the bases but ultimately coming up empty.
 
All of the scoring came in the second inning for BU. Freshman Nicole Waters opened the inning with a leadoff single, recording her first career hit in her first at-bat. Grad student Olivia Bricker followed with a hit by pitch before sophomore Madison Davis drove in Waters with an RBI single, advancing to second on the throw to put two runners in scoring position with no outs. Junior transfer Harlie Bickett, who recorded her first hit a Knight in the first inning, brought Bricker home with a sacrifice fly to left field to give the Knights a 2-0 lead.
 
Bellarmine held the 2-0 lead until the seventh inning when Siena scratched a run across to get within one, still down 2-1. Junior pitcher Claire Lehmkuhler worked out of the jam to secure the win for the Knights in their season opener.
 
Lehmkuhler was the star of the game, tossing a complete game to earn the win, giving up the lone run while scattering five hits with six strikeouts and no walks.
 
Game Two
 
Just as they did in game one, Bellarmine got out in front early. With two outs in the inning and a runner on first, senior Caitlyn Watson, who walked earlier in the frame, moved into scoring position, taking second base on a wild pitch. Watson scored on the next play as junior Megan Konermann reached on a fielding error to extend the inning and give BU a 1-0 lead.
 
Charleston Southern answered in the second inning, stringing together three hits to plate two runs and take a 2-1 lead.
 
The Knights rallied in the following frame as Bickett led off the at-bat with a single through the left side before advancing to second on a ground out. With two outs in the inning, Konermann came to the plate and brought Bickett home with a double off the base of the outfield wall to tie the game 2-2.
 
Charleston Southern put together another answer in the third, plating two more runs to retake the lead 4-2.
 
Bellarmine continued to fight but was ultimately unable to produce enough offense to overtake the Buccaneers, falling 4-2 in the second game of the day.
 
"We were right there offensively, really close to breaking through," said de la Haba. "I'm excited to see the team continue to grow throughout our next couple of games. We just have to make some small adjustments, but our defense and pitching was really good on day one."
 
The Knights will continue their opening weekend with another two games tomorrow, Saturday Feb. 10, facing off against Siena College again at 10 am, followed immediately by a contest with Saint Francis University at 12:30 pm E.T.
 
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