ROMEOVILLE, Ill. — The Bellarmine University baseball team entered its four-game series at Lewis with an uncertain status in regard to a presence in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament. The Knights clarified the situation with an authoritative statement, as they seized three of four games to earn a GLVC Tourney berth and solidify third place in the final GLVC East standings.
On Saturday, Bellarmine clinched its bid to the postseason with a 5-4 victory over the Flyers in the opener before dropping the tail end, 6-5. The Knights finished the regular season 24-24 overall and 15-11 in the GLVC.
After unleashing 26 runs on 34 hits in Friday's doubleheader sweep over Lewis (26-21, 15-13), Bellarmine grinded out its third-straight victory over the Flyers. The Knights scored three runs in the first but ultimately they took advantage of Lewis miscues, as only two of their five runs were earned.
A two-out, RBI double by senior center fielder
Jes Staples in the sixth proved crucial. The Knights led 5-2 at that point, but the Flyers responded with two runs. Senior right-hander
John Hakemoller entered for senior left-hander
Austin Warner to start the seventh and retired the side in order to earn his first save and seal a spot in the postseason for the Knights.
Warner (4-3) allowed four earned runs on five hits and had eight strikeouts in 6.0 innings pitched. He struck out the side in the fifth.
Staples went 2 for 2 in the opener. Senior third baseman
Cole Metcalfe added an RBI single, freshman right fielder
Alex Phillips chipped in a sacrifice fly and freshman designated hitter
Brady Pfaadt went 1 for 1 with an RBI while reaching base in all three plate appearances.
Bellarmine gained a 5-1 lead in the seventh inning in the tail end, but Lewis scored two runs apiece in the seventh and eighth to tie it and won on a walk-off RBI single in the ninth.
Staples had another impressive outing, going 4 for 5 with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore shortstop
Drew Greenwood had two hits, sophomore left fielder
Griffin Neuer delivered an RBI double and Metcalfe tallied two RBIs.
Senior right-hander
Evan McNair pitched 7.0 strong innings, allowing two earned runs on nine hits.
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GAME 1 BOX SCORE (HTM)
GAME 2 BOX SCORE (HTM)