ST. CHARLES, Mo. – The Bellarmine University softball team couldn't get the offense going on day one of the Lindenwood Invite, dropping both games on Friday at Lou Brock Sports Complex, falling 2-0 to Green Bay in game one and 3-1 to host Lindenwood in game two.
The Knights (5-7) continued to limit their opponents' offense but were unable to produce much offense of their own, scoring just one run across both games with a combined 13 hits on the day.
"Our pitchers and defense did a great job keeping us in games," said Bellarmine head coach
Caitlyn de la Haba said. "We just didn't have timely hitting today."
Game One
Pitching was dominant on both sides of the diamond to start game as both teams were limited to just two hits each through the first two innings.
Green Bay finally broke through in the top of the third, plating a run on a walk, hit by pitch and one hit to take a 1-0 lead. The Phoenix tacked on another run in the fourth to extend their lead to 2-0.
The Knights couldn't get much going in game one but threatened a comeback in the bottom half of the seventh. Junior
Serenity Shemwell led the frame off with a single through the left side before advancing to second on a ground out to second. With two outs in the inning, freshman
Nicole Waters singled up the middle, moving Shemwell to third but Bellarmine would get no further, falling 2-0 in the first game of the day.
Game Two
Just as game one started, pitchers were in control to start game two as both offenses were held scoreless for the first three innings.
Lindenwood struck first, scoring two runs in the fourth thanks to two singles and a triple to take a 2-0 lead.
Bellarmine answered in the top of the sixth, tallying its first run of the day. With one out in inning, grad student
Olivia Bricker doubled down the left field line to give the Knights offense a boost. After another quick out, Shemwell stepped to the plate and drove a single up the middle, scoring Bricker to cut Lindenwood's lead to one, down 2-1.
The Lions scratched another run across in the bottom half of the sixth, due to an untimely Knights error in the field.
Bellarmine was unable to mount a comeback in the seventh, falling 3-1 in its second game of the day.
"We outhit Lindenwood in the second game, but we didn't get the hits when we needed them," de la Haba added. "We plan to come back better tomorrow!"
The Knights will continue play at the Lindenwood Invite tomorrow, Saturday, March 2 with another two-game slate. Bellarmine will take on host Lindenwood again in game one with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. Game two pits the Knights against Western Illinois University at 5 p.m. ET.
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