NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The visiting Bellarmine University baseball team split with Trevecca Nazarene on Saturday, erupting for 16 hits in an 18-2 victory in the first game before falling 4-3 in the tail end.

In the opener, Bellarmine scored all 18 of its runs through six innings, including 14 in the fourth through sixth frames. The Knights (6-7) scored three in the second, one in the third, four in the fourth, sixth in the fifth and four in the sixth against Trevecca Nazarene (7-8).

Senior center fielder Jes Staples went 4 for 5 with a triple, three RBIs and three runs scored. Senior third baseman Cole Metcalfe went 3 for 5 with four runs scored and three RBIs, while junior first baseman Nick Wright had two hits and four RBIs, sophomore catcher Brady Pfaadt added two hits and freshman second baseman Derek Burns launched his first collegiate home run.

Staples' two-run triple highlighted Bellarmine's three-run second, and Wright's two-run triple was the big blow in a four-run fourth where the Knights scored all their runs after the first two batters got out.

In the fifth, Pfaadt smacked an RBI double, Burns cracked a two-run homer and both Metcalfe and Wright had RBI singles. In the sixth, Wright and freshman right fielder Zac Wiley both lifted sacrifice flies.

Michael Messier (2-1) recorded the win in the first game. The junior left-hander allowed six hits and two earned runs while striking out five and walking none in 6.0 innings pitched. Freshman right-hander Kyle Beach then pitched 3.0 scoreless innings of relief.

Trevecca Nazarene scored all four of its runs in the second game in the first inning. The Trojans had five extra-base hits, including two homers, in the frame.

Bellarmine scored a run in the fifth on an RBI double by Staples. Sophomore second baseman Trevor Lines and Metcalfe both had RBI singles in the seventh as the Knights sliced their deficit to 4-3, but the Trojans were able to end the game with BU having the tying run on second base.

Metcalfe, Lines and junior catcher Christopher Allen had two hits apiece in the tail end.

Bellarmine will host Northwood in a doubleheader at noon (ET) on Saturday.

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GAME 1 BOX SCORE (HTM)
GAME 2 BOX SCORE (HTM)