LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bellarmine University softball celebrated its senior class on Saturday morning as the Knights kicked off their final home series of the 2025 season, falling in both games of a doubleheader to Lipscomb at Knights Field.

Bellarmine got on the board first in game one. Senior Harlie Bickett led the frame off with a single followed by a single from junior Jacklyn Zuege that advanced Bickett to third. After the first out of the inning, senior Chloe Collins reached first thanks to a Lipscomb fielding error that also allowed Bickett to score, putting the Knights up 1-0. In the next at-bat, senior Megan Konermann ripped a ball through the left side of the infield for an RBI single, extending BU's lead to 2-0.

Lipscomb didn't answer until the third inning when they put up two runs of their own to even the score at 2-2. From there, the Bisons continued to add on, taking the lead in the fourth with a run before scoring one in the fifth and three in the seventh to take a 7-2 lead.

In the home half of the seventh, senior Mackayla Denney led off the at-bat for Bellarmine as a pinch hitter. Denney made quick work of her chance at the plate, driving a single up the middle. That would be the final offense of the game for the Knights as they dropped game one 7-2.

Despite taking the loss, senior Claire Lehmkuhler turned in a complete game effort on senior day, tossing 7.0 innings with two strikeouts.

Game two was much more of pitcher's duel.

With both teams coming up scoreless through the first three innings, Lipscomb finally broke the stalemate with a run in the top of the fourth.

The Knights responded quickly, scoring a run of their own in the fifth. After a quick first out, freshman Peyton Arnold reached first thanks to a fielding error. Junior Madison Davis followed with a hard line drive that caromed off the pitcher's glove for an infield single, moving Arnold to second. Senior Erica Endris stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter in the next at-bat and nearly put three runs on the board but came up just short as the ball was caught at the fence in right field. Arnold was able to move up to third on the play before a wild pitch in the next at-bat allowed her to score and tie the game 1-1.

In the top of the seventh, Lipscomb worked their way through the lineup to tally a run and take a 2-1 lead.

Bellarmine got a runner to second base in the home half of the inning but was unable to bring a run home.

Grad student Kelsie Houchens, who was also honored in the senior day festivities, turned in yet another complete game, her eighth of the season, tossing 7.0 strong innings, allowing just the two runs, one earned, on four hits and four walks with three strikeouts.

Up next, Bellarmine will play its final home game of the 2025 season, wrapping up its series with Lipscomb on Sunday, April 27 at Knights Field.

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