LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Bellarmine University Baseball Team suffered a pair of 4-3 losses to St. Joseph's College on Saturday afternoon at Knights Field. Recaps of the games are below.
Game 1: St. Joseph's 4, Bellarmine 3 (11 innings) (Box Score)
Third baseman Jake Roberts' solo homerun in the top of the 11th inning gave the Pumas the game-winning run in a contest that was briefly halted in the eighth inning because of lightning in the area.
Bellarmine scored the game's first runs in the bottom of the third inning when first baseman Kal Scheler singled to center field, bringing home left fielder Phillip Leopold and designated hitter Samuel Burke.
The Pumas gained a 3-2 lead in the eighth when designated hitter Kolin Conner connected on an RBI single. The Knights tied it up with another Kal Scheler RBI single in the bottom half of the inning.
Burke, left fielder Michael Morrissette, and center fielder Cody Scheler each had multiple hits in the game, as the Knights totaled 11.
Bellarmine starter Phil Forbis struck out six and allowed one earned run off five hits in seven innings. Justin Strohmeier (L, 0-1) gave up four hits and struck out three Pumas in 3.1 innings.
Game 2: St. Joseph's 4, Bellarmine 3 (Box Score)
The Knights scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth, but could not force another runner across the plate in a scheduled seven inning contest.
Cody Scheler's RBI single to center was misplayed by the fielder, allowing the batter to reach third base. With third baseman Jared Forrest at the plate, St. Joe's starter Nathan Bunch (W, 3-5) threw a wild pitch, allowing Scheler to score.
Bellarmine was unable to put another batter on base, as reliever Jordan Peterson (S, 1) struck out two for the final four outs of the contest.
Burke was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored, while Kal Scheler drove in his fourth overall run of the day in with a third inning solo homerun.
Ben Fuchs (L, 3-2) surrendered four earned runs in 5.2 innings, striking out four and walking five. Matt Bayes came on in relief and allowed zero hits, recording four outs.
Bellarmine (18-14, 10-6 GLVC) will honor its six senior ballplayers on Sunday with another doubleheader against St. Joseph's (11-22, 10-10 GLVC). First pitch of Game 1 is scheduled for noon at Knights Field, while ceremonies to honor Matt Bayes, Kyle Roden, Taylor Scarlett, Kal Scheler, Kris Sipes, and Justin Strohmeier will take place between games.
