Louisville, Ky.- The Jacksonville softball team lost both its matchups against Bellarmine in a doubleheader on Friday.
 
Three Dolphins in Alison Carter, Kailey Harrigan and Lindsey Chadwick had multi-hit days which included a home run, and Shelby Harpe surrendered just four hits in 6.1 innings, but JU was on the wrong side of a walkoff home run to round out its first day of conference play.

"It was a tough day," said head coach Erica Ayers. "We're going to see what we can do to make some adjustments, need to get a win tomorrow."

GAME ONE

The Dolphins fell in game one of the afternoon 7-5.

In an offensive slug-fest, both sides combined for six home runs in the first game alone. Harrigan, Carter and Chadwick each had one big fly for the Dolphins, and for Carter and Chadwick it was their first of the season.

Bellarmine used a pair of two-run blasts in the third inning to take an early 4-0 advantage. Harrigan's big fly came in the fourth inning to get JU on the board, and Carter's in the fifth to cut the Dolphin deficit in half. The Knights then responded with three runs in the fifth inning to take their largest lead of the day at 7-2 heading into the top of the sixth. Madison Bratek led things off for JU in the sixth and was hit by the pitch to get it started. Chadwick then blasted a home run over the right center fence to bring JU to within three, 7-4. Harrigan earned a five-pitch walk, and Carter followed suit after a pair of groundouts from the Dolphins advanced a JU runner to third. An eventual wild pitch scored the runner from third and got JU to within two.

A 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth for Bellarmine brought JU back up quickly in the top of the seventh, and Madison Reynolds earned a four pitch walk and ended up on second after a passed ball. A 10-plus pitch at-bat from Madison Bratek ended in a pop-out, and the rest of the order couldn't get anything started as BU escaped the late innings comeback by the Dolphins.
 
GAME TWO

In a game that was a polar opposite to the first in terms of offense, JU was on the wrong side of a walk off in a well-pitched contest that ended 2-1, Bellarmine.
The Knights again struck first, this time via a solo home run in the second inning to take an early 1-0 lead.
Jacksonville would respond in the fourth inning after Kari Holzrichter ripped a double to left center, scoring Averi Harcus who had doubled two batters prior and tying the game at 1-1.

The Dolphins nearly scored again in the fifth inning when Alison Carter started the frame off with a double and was standing on third on a subsequent wild pitch. Carter was tagged out at home two batters later on a fielder's choice, and the JU threat ended there.

In the seventh, JU reached base via Chadwick single, but timely pitching kept the Dolphins from gaining a late lead. Two batters into the home half of the seventh, Bellarmine sent a ball over the left field fence, ending the game in walk off fashion.
 
UP NEXT

The Dolphins conclude their series with the Bellarmine Knights tomorrow, March 16, with first pitch slated for 11 AM.