LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bellarmine softball closed out its MTE schedule on Sunday, falling to LIU 2-1 in the Cardinal Classic finale at Ulmer Stadium.

The Knights (6-16) got a strong performance in the circle from sophomore Lele Bennett but just couldn't get all the bats going at the same time to overtake LIU.

Bennett turned in her third complete game of the season, tossing 6.0 innings while allowing just two runs on six hits with two walks and a career-high eight strikeouts.

Going into the sixth inning stuck in a 0-0 stalemate, Bellarmine got two runners on with one out in the top of the inning but were unable to bring a run home. In the bottom of the frame, LIU finally broke the silence with back-to-back RBI hits, scoring two runs to jump ahead 2-0.

In the seventh, the Knights started hot with sophomore Kendall Gaddie and senior Madison Davis both notching singles to get the at-bat going. Junior Nicole Waters followed with a sac bunt to move both runners into scoring position for freshman Lily Jones, who succeeded in scoring a run on a groundout to second base, getting BU back within one at 2-1. Now, with two outs and a runner on third, the Knights were unable to bring the tying run home, falling 2-1 on Sunday morning.

Five Knights recorded a base hit in the game, led by Jones with a double and an RBI.

Up next, Bellarmine will host its first home game at Knights Field on March 12 when IU Indy comes to town.

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