LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Bellarmine softball team closed its first weekend of Atlantic Sun Conference play, dropping both games of a doubleheader to Austin Peay on Friday. The Knights fell 2-0 in the first game and 6-4 in the second at Knights Field.
With the two losses, Bellarmine moves to 4-13 overall and 0-3 in the ASUN.
Game one was a pitcher's duel from start to finish.
With the game still scoreless after three, Austin Peay broke the stalemate in the fourth. The Governors put up the first run of the game with an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead.
APSU added a second insurance run in the top of the seventh to go up 2-0 before shutting the Bellarmine offense down in the bottom of the inning to secure the win.
Despite taking the loss,
Claire Lehmkuhler pitched 6.0 solid innings, allowing just one run on six hits with four strikeouts and no walks.
The second game of the day started just as the first did with no runs in the first two innings.
Once again, Austin Peay broke the stalemate, this time in the third, with three runs highlighted by a two RBI single to right center.
The Knights responded in the bottom of the fifth. After two quick outs to start the frame,
Jadyn Thompson got things started with a double down the right field line. In the next at-bat,
Madison Davis reached on an error, moving Thompson to third before
Harlie Bickett reached base after taking a hit by pitch to load the bases. After an Austin Peay pitching change,
Jacklyn Zuege did damage with a single through the right side, scoring both Thompson and Davis before the throw home got away from the catcher, allowing Bickett to score as well and tie the game 3-3.
Austin Peay put up more runs of its own, scoring a run in the sixth and two runs in the seventh to push its lead back to three at 6-3.
Bellarmine mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Thompson once again got the offense going with a single to left field. A ground out by Davis allowed Thompson to move into scoring position with two outs. Bickett reached base via walk in the next at-bat before Thompson stole third to move even closer to scoring. With Zuege at the plate again, the transfer delivered another RBI single to score Thompson, cutting the deficit to 6-4. Unfortunately, no more runs would cross the plate in the inning as the rally fell short.
Up next, Bellarmine will stay at home, hosting Kentucky at Knights Field on Wednesday, March 19.
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