Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 LEBANON, Ill.—The Bellarmine University baseball team started a little slowly but roared back to salvage a split in a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader against the Bearcats of McKendree University today at Hypes Field.

After falling behind 9-2 in second inning of game one, the Knights rallied and put up eight runs in the top of seventh to tie the score 11 to 11, but a hit batter with the bases load in the bottom half of the inning allowed the winning run to cross the plate as the Bearcats pulled out an exciting 12-11 decision.  In game two, the Knights put up three runs in the top of the first and went on to trounce the home team 13-3 in seven innings.

Bellarmine's Phil Leopold had a monster day, going 6-for-9 with two homers, three doubles and a single.  The sophomore right fielder also drove in six runs and scored four times.  

After their initial offensive explosion, the McKendree bats were held pretty well in check.  In game one, the Bearcats were limited to just four hits and three runs in the final five innings, and in game two Bellarmine pitchers Austin Warner and Ryan Dixon combined on a five hitter.

Other top performances for the Knights were turned in by Austin Crutcher, who went 2-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs in game one.  Cody Scheler and Jes Staples also posted a pair of hits in the opener as Bellarmine totaled 14 hits in game one.

In the nightcap, Bellarmine posted 12 hits in scoring 13 runs, led by Michael Morrissette with three base knocks while Nick Hladek and Leopold each had two.
The split moves Bellarmine to 19-15 on the season with a 14-8 league mark.  The Bearcats stand 17-15 overall and are an even 12-12 in GLVC play.

Bellarmine returns to Knights Field for a pair of weekend doubleheaders against conference foe University of Indianapolis.  First pitch is scheduled for noon on both Saturday and Sunday.

BOX SCORE GAME 1 (HTM)

BOX SCORE GAME 2 (HTM)