RICHMOND, Ky. – Sophomore Lele Bennett led the Bellarmine University softball team to victory on Sunday, turning in an excellent performance in the circle while producing at the plate to close out the weekend with a 2-1 win over Eastern Kentucky at Gertrude Hood Field.

Bennett got the starting nod and threw one of her best games of the season. The Columbia, SC native tossed a 7.0 inning complete game, allowing just one run on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts. At the plate, she also collected an RBI single in the top of the seventh to put BU ahead 2-0 and helped secure the win.

In what was a pitcher's duel from start to finish, both team's starters brought their A game as neither team was able to bring home a run in the first five innings of action.

Bellarmine (10-19, 3-3 ASUN) got on the board first in the top of the sixth after junior Kendall Gaddie laid down a sacrifice bunt to break the stalemate and give the Knights a 1-0 lead.

One inning later, Bennett added an important insurance run on an RBI single up the middle, extending the lead to 2-0.

With just three outs remaining in the game, Eastern Kentucky (15-15, 4-2 ASUN) mounted a rally and scored a run, but Bennett shut down the threat to secure the 2-1 win for the Knights.

EKU's Victoria Byrum, who tossed 7.0 no-hit innings against Bellarmine in game two of yesterday's doubleheader, produced another valiant effort in the game with 6.0 innings of work, giving up two runs on two hits with 10 strikeouts and three walks.

Up next, Bellarmine will take on another in-state opponent, traveling to Lexington on Tuesday, March 24 to take on Kentucky.

For more coverage of Bellarmine athletics, follow BUKnights on X, Instagram and Facebook.