LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bellarmine softball opened its Atlantic Sun Conference slate on Saturday, splitting a doubleheader with Lipscomb, falling 5-2 in game one before responding with a 3-1 victory in game two at Knights Field.

The Knights (8-17, 1-1 ASUN) were the first to score in each game but were only able to pull out one win on the first day of conference play.

After opening the game with two runs in the bottom of the first, thanks to a two RBI double off the bat of junior Kendall Gaddie, Bellarmine was unable to bring home another run for the remainder of
the game.

Lipscomb (7-18, 1-1 ASUN) on the other hand, put together three innings of work resulting in runs. The Bisons tallied their first run in the third before putting up two runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings to secure the 5-2 win.

Gaddie led the Knights with two hits in the game while seven total players recorded a hit.

Bellarmine once again struck first in the second game, this time thanks to an RBI single off the bat of Lauren Guthrie in the first.

The next two innings went by without much action before Lipscomb tacked a run on the board in the fourth to even the score 1-1.

BU bided its time before finally striking again in the sixth. Back-to-back doubles by freshman Tia Ice and Gaddie to lead off the inning put the Knights ahead again, with Gaddie getting the RBI. Later in the frame, Bellarmine took advantage of a Lipscomb error to add on another run, pushing the lead to two, up 3-1.

Lipscomb made a run in the seventh, getting two runners in scoring position, but sophomore Makenzie Cowburn shutdown the threat to secure the 3-1 win.

Cowburn tossed a 7.0 inning complete game to notch her third win of the year, allowing just the one run on seven hits with two strikeouts and a single walk.

Up next, Bellarmine and Lipscomb will cap off the series with a rubber match tomorrow, March 15 at 1 pm E.T. at Knights Field.

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