Louisville City Wire

Softball drops home opener to Valparaiso, has tight game with EIU suspended in seventh

Bellarmine softball took the diamond at Knights Field for the first time in 2023, and completed day one of the Bellarmine Invitational.

 

The Knights dropped their home opener to Valparaiso by a final score of 6-2, and nearly completed their second game of the day against Eastern Illinois before it was suspended by darkness.

 

With the score tied 7-7 going to the bottom of the seventh inning, darkness forced the finish between Bellarmine and EIU to be delayed.  The matchup will resume at 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning, prior to the originally scheduled 11:00 a.m. game between the Knights and Panthers.

Game One

 

Bellarmine was the first to strike on Saturday afternoon, scoring in each of its first two trips to the plate against Valpo.

 

Chloe Collins hammered her team-best fourth home run of the season to right-center in the first inning, to give the Knights a 1-0 advantage.  In the second, Olivia Bricker singled to right field, driving home Abbey Nesnidal and putting Bellarmine ahead 2-0.

 

Valpo slowly but surely rallied, however, scoring in its next four trips to the dish.  With the game tied 2-2 going to the fifth inning, Lauren Kehlenbrink launched a go-ahead three-run homer to left field, giving Valparaiso a 5-2 lead.  The Beacons added an insurance run in the sixth and held on for the victory.

 

Valparaiso held an 11-2 advantage in hits, holding Bellarmine hitless after the second inning. 

 

Claire Lehmkuhler pitched 4.1 innings for the Knights.  Elli Jensen turned in a solid 2.2 innings out of the pen, allowing just one run.  Easton Seib tossed the first three innings for Valpo, and Caitlyn Kowalski pitched the final four, earning the victory.

 

Game Two

Against Eastern Illinois, Bellarmine used a pair of big innings to take a sizeable lead.  The Panthers led 1-0 after the top of the second, but Bellarmine responded with three runs in the home half.   

 

After loading the bases with two hit batsmen and a walk, Alexis Hargrove drew a RBI walk to tie the game 1-1.  Freshman Madison Davis followed with a single to right field, giving Bellarmine the lead.  Anna Greenwell later drew a RBI walk to put the Knights ahead 3-1.

 

Bellarmine appeared to break the game open in the fourth inning, plating four runs to take a 7-1 lead.  Bricker picked up her second RBI of the day by driving home Davis with a RBI single to left field.  A fielder's choice RBI for Megan Konermann and two-RBI single to left center for Carson Goatley put the Knights in great position with a six-run lead.  Bellarmine totaled three hits, one walk, and three steals in the big inning.

 

Eastern Illinois scored what proved to be a crucial run in the fifth, with a RBI double from Lindy Milkowski.

 

Milkowski's extra base knock would not be her most important hit of the game.  With the Knights up 7-2 and needing just three outs in the seventh, EIU went to work.  The Panthers tallied two singles and walk to load the bases for Milkowski, who delivered a grand slam to draw EIU within one run.  Amber Cieplinski then singled, and pinch runner Olivia Price advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Danaed Santini stepped in and doubled to score Price and tie the game. 

 

Bellarmine escaped the inning with a tie game, and it was halted there due to darkness.

 

After the conclusion of the game begins at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, the Knights will face EIU for a second time.  Bellarmine wraps up its weekend with a 4:00 p.m. matchup against Valpo tomorrow evening.

 

All games at the Bellarmine Invitational can be viewed on BU Knights Sports Network.

Original source can be found here.