FLORENCE, Al. – The Bellarmine University softball team suffered a tough, extra-innings loss on Saturday afternoon, falling 2-1 to North Alabama in the ninth inning of the series finale at Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium.

After a quiet first inning, North Alabama struck first, taking advantage of a throwing error by the Knights' defense to score a run and take a 1-0 lead.

From there, both pitchers locked in, not allowing another run until the seventh inning.

Down 1-0 with three outs left, Bellarmine evened the score in the top of the final inning. Entering as a pinch hitter to lead off the frame, senior Eria Endris worked to a full count before drilling a pitch she liked over the fence in right field for a game-tying home run.

Grad student Kelsie Houchens continued to work in the circle for the Knights in the extra innings, working her way around a pair of two out singles to keep things level at 1-1 and give BU another chance.
The Knights got a two-out single from Reni Shemwell in the eighth, but that was their final bit of offense as North Alabama rallied in the bottom of the ninth, scoring a run on a walk-off sacrifice fly to take a 2-1 win.

Despite taking the loss, Houchens turned in a gem of a game. She tossed an 8.2 inning complete game, surrendering just the two unearned runs on five hits with two walks, one intentional in the ninth inning, and one strikeout.

Up next, Bellarmine will return home for its final series at Knights Field next weekend, hosting Lipscomb University April 26-27.

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