FLORENCE, Ala.--The Bellarmine University baseball team got strong pitching performances from a couple of newcomers as the Knights defeated North Alabama 4-2 to avoid the sweep while picking up the season's first victory today.
Freshman
Jason Sterrett got the start for Bellarmine and pitched four scoreless innings before giving way to sophomore Indiana State transfer
Matt Bayes, who also registered four shutout innings. Meanwhile, the Knights capitalized on several Lion errors to build a 4-0 lead heading into the ninth, when the home team scratched out two runs to make the final 4-2.
Bellarmine broke open the scoreless game in the fourth inning when
David Weinstein led off with a double. After advancing to third on a groundout, the Louisville native scored on a wild pitch to give the Knights a 1-0 lead. Bellarmine tacked on another run in the inning as third baseman
Zachary Blanchard drew a walk, stole second and scored on second baseman
John Lyons' single.
In the fifth, the Knights ran the score to 3-0 when pinch runner
Marty Roberts scampered home from third on another wild pitch by the Lions. Roberts had come into run for
Kal Scheler, who was hit by a pitch. First baseman
Nick Riganti then advanced Roberts to third with his single.
Bellarmine added an important insurance run in the top of the ninth when Lyons singled, stole second, and scored when the North Alabama made an error on a ball off the bat of Roberts. In the bottom half of the ninth, the Lions made Bellarmine work for the victory by scoring twice before Bellarmine pitcher induced a ground out to end the game.
The Knights return to action with a four game series at North Georgia State College and University on Feb. 18, 20 and 21.
