ST. LOUIS—The Bellarmine University baseball team made an early exit from the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship as they lost 13-12 to Drury in an elimination game played at Missouri-St. Louis.

After sending 10 batters to the plate in the first inning to take a 6-1 lead, Bellarmine's offense couldn't produce the big rally despite several opportunities later in the game.

Meanwhile, the Panthers scored in bunches, to go ahead 13-9 after six. Of the 13 runs, only seven were earned as the Knights helped the Drury attack with five errors.

Bellarmine, the tourney's No. 7 seed, stranded runners in scoring position in each of the last three innings and left a total of 10 men on base.

The Knights outhit Drury 14-12, led by John Lyons and Kalvin Scheler with three hits apiece. David Weinstein tied Scheler for the team lead with three RBI.

The Knights have now lost seven in a row to slip to 26-26 overall. The quick exit also jeopardizes Bellarmine's chances of getting in the NCAA tournament. In the last regional poll, the Knights were ranked fifth in the Midwest Region (six teams qualify for the NCAA Midwest Regional).

Drury, which earned the No. 6 tournament seeding, improves to 34-19.

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