CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – A three run home run off the bat of Chloe Collins helped lift the Bellarmine University softball team over Austin Peay on Friday afternoon at Cathi Maynard Park.
 
With the 5-2 win, the Knights move to 12-18 overall and 4-4 in Atlantic Sun play this season. With the loss, the Governors drop to 16-17, 2-5 in the ASUN. In addition, the weekend series now moves to 1-1 with one game left to play.
 
After recording just two hits in last night's contest, Bellarmine not only matched but exceeded that mark in the opening from of the game. Freshman Brooke Shewmaker led the inning by legging out an infield single, followed by a sharply hit single down the left field line off the bat of junior Harlie Bickett. In stepped fellow junior Chloe Collins who cleared the bases with a deep shot over the left field wall, her team-lead tying fifth home run of the season, to give the Knights a 3-0 lead.
 
In the next inning, Bellarmine got right back to work. Grad student Olivia Bricker kicked the frame off with a leadoff walk. Sophomore Madison Davis and junior Kayla Bauer followed with a single each to bring Bricker home, extending BU's lead to 4-0. After a baserunning error resulted in the first out, Shewmaker reached base for the second straight inning, this time via walk before Bickett brought home Davis with a sacrifice fly to left field, pushing the lead even further to 5-0.
 
Senior Carson Goatley got the starting nod for the Knights and pitched one of her best games of the season. Goatley turned in 4.0 shutout innings, scattering four hits while issuing a single walk with two strikeouts. Freshman Selena Zuniga entered in the bottom of the fifth and finished the game, allowing just two runs, one earned, on four hits in 3.0 innings of work. For their efforts, Goatley earned the win, her second of the season, and Zuniga was awarded the save, her third.
 
The Governors made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh. The first two batters reached base for Austin Peay thanks to a Bellarmine fielding error and a base hit. The Knights got the first out of the inning next, but a second single by the Governors brought home a run. A third single loaded the bases before a fielder's choice scored a second run for the Governors, cutting the lead to three at 5-2. Zuniga was finally able to work her way out of the jam, getting a fly ball for the third out to secure the 5-2 win for Bellarmine.
 
The Knights and Governors will play a decisive game three tomorrow afternoon, March 30. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET.
 
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