Bellarmine University’s softball team ended a 12-game losing streak on April 18 by winning the first game of a doubleheader against Lipscomb University, before dropping the second game at Draper Diamond in Nashville.
The result is significant for Bellarmine (11-32, 4-13), which had not won in its previous dozen outings. The Knights secured a 4-2 victory in the opener, followed by a 5-1 loss to the Bisons (11-33, 4-13) in the second contest.
In the first game, Bellarmine scored twice in the opening inning through a wild pitch and a bases-loaded walk. Sophomore pitcher Lele Bennett contributed both on the mound and at bat, hitting her team-leading sixth home run of the season in the third inning. Senior Madison Davis added an RBI single later that frame to extend Bellarmine’s lead to four runs. Bennett pitched six innings, allowing two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and four walks. Sophomore Makenzie Cowburn closed out the win by earning her first career save after working around three base runners and recording two strikeouts in the seventh inning.
Lipscomb responded with two runs off an RBI double in their half of the third but could not close further on Bellarmine’s lead during game one.
In game two, Lipscomb took an early lead with an RBI double before Bellarmine tied it up on sophomore Lauren Guthrie’s sacrifice fly. However, Lipscomb regained control with an RBI triple and added three more runs in the sixth inning to secure victory. Guthrie and freshman Jayla Manning were responsible for Bellarmine’s only hits during that matchup.
Bellarmine will conclude its series against Lipscomb with another matchup scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
