LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Bellarmine University softball team will open its Atlantic Sun Conference schedule this weekend, hosting Austin Peay at Knights Field for a three-game series Thursday to Friday.
With a new schedule due to the weekend's weather forecast, game one is set for Thursday, March 13 at 4 pm E.T. The series will conclude on Friday, March 14 with a doubleheader. Friday's first game is scheduled for 2 pm E.T. with game two schedule for 4:30 pm E.T.
Last season, Bellarmine earned its first win in an ASUN conference opening game, defeating Jacksonville 7-5 on March 15. Before that, the Knights had gone 0-3. BU ultimately went on to win the opening series over Jacksonville for its first ASUN series win in program history.
The Knights opened their longest home stretch of the season last weekend, hosting Ball State, Stonehill and Evansville for a Round Robin weekend. Bellarmine ultimately went 0-3 in its home debut.
Jadyn Thompson led the offensive effort, hitting .375 (3-for-8) with a double, two RBI, a run and a stolen base.
Lydia Stowe was right behind her, hitting .300 on the weekend (3-for-10) with an RBI and a run.
Kelsie Houchens was great in the circle for the Knights, turning in a 1.50 ERA in 9.1 innings of work. She appeared in all three games while making one start, allowing just two earned runs, five total, on 10 hits.
Megan Konermann still leads the team in hitting with a .333 batting average (10-for-30), two home runs and seven RBI, adding a double and four runs. Konermann did however suffer an injury in Florida and missed the last three games for the Knights.
Harlie Bickett is second on the team, hitting .282 (11-for-39). She leads the team with five doubles and five stolen bases and is tied with Konermann for the team lead with seven RBI while adding a home run and nine runs. As a team, Bellarmine is hitting .198 with 42 runs, 18 extra-base hits and 10 stolen bases.
Austin Peay enters ASUN conference play 22-3 on the season and are on the second-longest active winning streak in the country at 19 games. Last season, Austin Peay finished eighth in the ASUN, going 23-29 overall and 8-16 in league play. The Governors were tabbed to finish 7
th in the Preseason Coaches' Poll and currently sit atop the Gold Division. APSU is lead offense led by Kylie Campbell who is hitting a whopping .449 (35-for-78). Campbell leads the team in triple (4) and runs (27) and is tied for the lead in doubles (9) while ranking second in RBI (22) and third in home runs (4). Brie Howard is the Governors' second-best hitter with a .378 average (28-for-74) and adds four doubles, two home runs, 17 RBI, 26 runs and a stolen base to her line. Austin Peay has a pair of power hitters in Katie Raper and Sam Leski who lead the team with seven homers each. Leski is tops in the RBI department with 24 while Raper adds 18. Overall, the Governors are hitting .337 as a team and have scored 185 runs with 85 extra-base hits and 15 stolen bases. Austin Peay leads the ASUN and ranks Top 25 in the NCAA in runs per game (7.4, 20
th), home runs (24, 21
st), hits (232, 13
th and doubles (46, 8
th). In the circle, Ashley Martin leads the APSU pitching staff with a 1.89 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. She owns a 6-0 record and five saves in 18 appearances. As a team, the Governors deploy a 2.79 ERA and 1.42 WHIP while allowing opposing hitters a .264 batting average.
Bellarmine and Austin Peay have met six times since the Knights joined the Atlantic Sun in 2020. The Governors hold a 5-1 advantage in the all-time series and won the last meeting on March 30, 2024 6-3 in Clarksville. BU earned its first and only win against Austin Peay last season, a 5-2 victory on March 29. This weekend will be the first contests between the two teams at Knights Field with a all six prior games taking place at APSU's Cathi Maynard Park.
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