NEW ALBANY, Ind.--The Bellarmine University baseball team got a clutch outing from relief pitcher Matt Bayes as the Knights won 7-3 over the host I.U. Southeast Grenadiers in the first-ever night game at the Koetter Athletic Complex.

Prior to the game, dignitaries and donors from I.U. Southeast held a brief ceremony to commemorate the "switching on of the lights" for baseball, and shortly thereafter the Knights starting lighting up the scoreboard.  After Kalvin Scheler led off with a crisp single to right and Patrick Brady walked, Braxton Graven ripped a double in the power alley in right center to knock in both base runners. Zach Blanchard scorched a two-out double down the left line to drive in Graven and give Bellarmine a 3-0 after the top of the first.

The Grenadiers came right back to tie it in their half of the first by plating three runs on just two hits. However, the Bellarmine defense and pitching stiffened to shut out the I.U. Southeast  offense the rest of the way.

In the bottom of the second, Bellarmine pitcher Patrick Krumme injured his arm as he delivered a ptich resulting in a hit batsmen and a bases loaded with two outs situation. The Knights called on Matt Bayes to come on in relief without the benefit of a bullpen warmup.  The crafty lefthander coolly ended the threat by striking out the first batter he faced.

Bayes would go on to earn his sixth win of the season after pitching four and a third innings, allowing no runs and just one hit and one walk while ringing up five Ks. Samuel Robinson worked the final three innings in shutout fashion to record his fourth save.  He was equally as effective, giving up just one hit and two bases on balls.

Meanwhile, the Knights' offense continued to produce, rapping out 12 hits to score seven runs. Tony Fazi, Weinstein and Blanchard all recorded multi-hit games for Bellarmine.

The win, Bellarmine's ninth in row, moves the Knights to 22-19 on the season, while the Grenadiers slip to 29-12 and suffer their first home loss in 21 games this season.

Bellarmine moves back into conference play this weekend, playing a 4-game set at St. Joseph's. Doubleheaders are scheduled to begin at noon on Saturday and Sunday.

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