LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Guided by the sure pitching of Kelsie Houchens and a team effort at the plate, the Bellarmine University softball team took down Northern Kentucky 6-1 in its final midweek contest of the season on Wednesday afternoon at Knights Field.

The Knights (7-26) got the offense going in the second inning. Freshman Peyton Arnold led the frame off with a single down the left field line, followed by a single off the bat of junior Madison Davis before the pair moved into scoring position on a ground out. With two away in the inning, a wild pitch by NKU allowed Arnold to score and Davis to take third. In the same at-bat senior Harlie Bickett sped down the first base line on a softly hit ball to the shortstop, forcing an errant throw to allow her to reach first and Davis to score another run, giving Bellarmine a 2-0 lead.

Northern Kentucky responded quickly, scoring a run of its own in the top of the third to cut Bellarmine's lead to 2-1.

In the bottom of the third, the Knights got back to work, scoring a run on an RBI single courtesy of Arnold and an RBI fielder's choice play by Davis to push the lead up to three at 4-1.

Bellarmine added one more run in each of the fifth and sixth innings thanks to RBI singles from seniors Erica Endris and Reni Shemwell, putting the Knights securely ahead 6-1.

Houchens was dominant in the circle, turning in yet another complete game. She allowed just the one run, unearned, on two hits while recording two strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work. Houchens has found her rhythm lately, tossing three complete games in her last four starts, allowing just six runs across her last 25.0 innings pitched.

Up next, Bellarmine will hit the road as the Knights return to ASUN play, traveling to Florence, AL for a three-game series at North Alabama April 18-19.

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