MADEIRA BEACH, Fl. – On a weird weather day in Florida, the Bellarmine University softball team collected a win in game one, topping Bethune-Cookman 6-3, and held a healthy 6-0 lead over Siena in the second game before rain shortened the day and suspended play in the Make It Happen Games at R.O.C. Park.
The Knights (3-12) started the tournament off on the right foot, defeating Bethune-Cookman 6-3.
Bellarmine opened the scoring with a two RBI double off the bat of junior
Nicole Waters in the second inning.
In the third, the Knights recorded six straight singles, scoring runs on the last two, thanks to junior
Kendall Gaddie and Waters. Bellarmine was able to scratch two more runs across in the frame after taking advantage of a B-CU throwing error to open a 6-0 lead.
The Wildcats rallied for two runs in the fifth and third run in the sixth, but Bellarmine held on for the 6-3 win.
Freshmen
Jayla Manning and
Tia Ice, along with Gaddie and Waters, tallied two hits each with Waters adding three RBI on the day.
Sophomore
Lele Bennett got her second win in as many starts with a strong, 5.0 inning performance, giving up two runs on two hits with three strikeouts to a single walk.
In the afternoon game, Bellarmine once again started the scoring. This time it was sophomore
Lauren Guthrie who launched her first career home run, a two-run shot, down the right field line in the bottom of the first inning.
In the third, the Knights struck again with another two-run homer, this time courtesy of Bennett, who tallied her third long ball of the year to give BU a 4-0 lead.
One inning later, Waters delivered another RBI single, followed by a bases loaded walk to senior
Madison Davis, to add on two more runs for a 6-0 lead.
Moving into the fifth, the Knights got a quick first out before the first lightning strike lit up the sky, delaying play. Unfortunately, the weather never got any better, forcing play to be halted at R.O.C. Park. The Knights and Saints plan to find a way to finish their game before the weekend is over.
Up next, Bellarmine will continue play in the Make It Happen Games with matchups against Monmouth and UMass on Saturday, February 28.
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