MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Bellarmine University softball team turned in one of its best offensive games of the season but, the effort was not enough as the Knights fell 9-7 to Morehead State in midweek action Wednesday at University Field.

With the loss, Bellarmine moves to 4-18 on the year.

After a scoreless first inning, Morehead State turned up the pressure in the second, scoring four runs on two RBI singles and an RBI ground out to jump ahead 4-0.

With a new Eagles pitcher in the circle, Bellarmine was able to scratch across its first run in the top of the third inning. Junior Jacklyn Zuege led the frame off with a bunt single, followed by a five-pitch walk to senior Megan Konermann. After two quick outs, senior Mackayla Denney stepped to the plate and delivered a clutch line drive single to center field, scoring Zuege to cut into the deficit, 4-1.

In the fourth, the Knights kept the offense rolling. Junior Madison Davis led the at-bat off with a walk with Zuege and Konermann reaching base a few batters later via back-to-back hit by pitch. With the bases loaded and one out, freshman Lydia Stowe was patient, drawing a four-pitch walk to bring in a run. In the next at-bat, senior Chloe Collins brought home another run thanks to a sacrifice fly, getting Bellarmine back within one at 4-3.

Morehead answered in the home half of the fourth, scoring a run on another RBI single to extend its lead back to two, up 6-4.

The Knights were not deterred however, scoring once again in the top of the fifth. With one away, freshman Peyton Arnold and sophomore Brooke Shewmaker got things going with back-to-back singles. Davis followed suit with a walk to load the bases. After a grounder for out number two, Zuege came up clutch with a first pitch single to center field, scoring two runs to tie the game 5-5.
Once again, the Eagles answered the call, scoring two runs of their own to retake the lead 7-5 in the bottom of the fifth.  

With a runner on first and one out in the top of the sixth, Arnold stepped to the plate for her second at-bat of the game. Working for a full count, Arnold smashed the next pitch she saw to deep left center field for her first career home run, tying the game 7-7.

Morehead State did what they had done all game in the bottom of the sixth, answering Bellarmine with two more runs of its own, taking a late 9-7 lead.

Senior Harlie Bickett led the seventh off with a single up the middle before stealing second base to put herself into scoring position, but nothing else would come as the Knights fell 9-7 on Wednesday afternoon.

Up next, Bellarmine looks ahead to its first road ASUN series as the Knights travel to Nashville, TN for a three-game series at Lipscomb March 28-29.

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