Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It may have been Senior Day at Knights Field, but a freshman stole the show.

In the bottom of the 13th inning in the second game of a Saturday doubleheader, Griffin Neuer launched a two-run, walk-off homer to lift the Bellarmine University baseball team to a 5-3 victory over Illinois Springfield after the Prairie Stars took the opener 6-3 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

Before Neuer's dramatic shot, Bellarmine (24-22, 16-16 GLVC) squandered a few golden opportunities in the extra frames against the Prairie Stars (22-24, 16-16). The Knights had the bases loaded with one out in the 10th and didn't score, and they also couldn't capitalize on a leadoff double by junior third baseman Cole Metcalfe in the 12th.

Things again started with promise in the 13th as senior right fielder Phillip Leopold ripped a single to center leading off against Illinois Springfield's Richard England (2-3), and senior second baseman Andy Gehr moved him up with a sacrifice bunt. Neuer entered the batter's box and didn't let another chance at the victory slip by, blasting a 2-1 pitch that soared over the fence in right.

The Knights mobbed their freshman designated hitter, who went deep for the third time this season and ensured BU went out with a bang in its final game this season at Knights Field. It was Bellarmine's second walk-off homer in eight days, as sophomore first baseman Nick Wright accomplished the feat against Indianapolis on April 17. Neuer went 5 for 9 overall in the doubleheader with a homer, double and three RBIs.

Neuer, Wright and Leopold all collected three hits for Bellarmine in the tail end while junior left fielder Jes Staples and Metcalfe had two apiece. Metcalfe went 3 for 4 in the opener, with Neuer chipping in two hits.

In the finale, Michael Messier (2-1) earned the win and kept Illinois Springfield off the board with 3.0 scoreless innings of relief. The sophomore left-hander allowed two hits and struck out four. He overcame a leadoff single by Adam Warda in the 13th by picking him off first base.

Bellarmine scored its other three runs in the second game in the sixth inning. Metcalfe and Wright started the frame with consecutive singles before freshman shortstop Drew Greenwood plated Metcalfe with a squeeze bunt. Sophomore catcher Christopher Allen and Leopold followed with singles, the latter of which brought in a run. Gehr capped the scoring in the inning for the Knights by drilling a double into the right-field corner.

Sophomore right-hander Zach Williams delivered a splendid start for Bellarmine in the finale, and Matt Farrington did the same for Illinois Springfield. Williams allowed a pair of earned runs and struck out five over 8.0 innings, while Farrington threw 9.1 innings and yielded three earned runs.

In the opener, Illinois Springfield jumped on Bellarmine for all six of its runs in the first inning. Metcalfe socked an RBI triple in the first, Neuer punched an RBI single in the fourth and Wright added an RBI single in the fifth, but the deficit was too steep for the Knights to overcome despite terrific relief work by junior right-hander Alex Mercer and freshman left-hander Willie Poe, who combined to allow no earned runs and only two hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings.

Leopold, Gehr, Austin Crutcher, Benjamin Fuchs, Trevor Schneider and Ryan Dixon were honored in between games on their Senior Day.

Bellarmine concludes the regular season next weekend with a pair of doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday at McKendree (Ill.). Each twin bill starts at 1 p.m. (ET).

GAME 1 BOX SCORE
GAME 2 BOX SCORE