LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University baseball team had a flair for the dramatic Friday at Knights Field.

Bellarmine completed a rally from a 5-0 deficit in the ninth inning on senior catcher Brady Pfaadt's walk-off two-run single in a stunning 6-5 victory over Southern Indiana in the opener before junior third baseman Josh Finerty crushed a grand slam in the tail end to highlight an 8-5 triumph over the Screaming Eagles in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

Bellarmine (28-10, 11-3 GLVC) halted the nine-game winning streak of Southern Indiana (17-15, 8-6) with the epic rally in the opener. The Knights were trailing 5-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth as USI starter Austin Krizan eyed a shutout.

The last frame began with a hard single up the middle by senior left fielder Griffin Neuer. After a strikeout, senior second baseman Alex Ralph and freshman designated hitter Matt Higgins both singled to load the bases. Freshman Chris Gambert pinch hit and delivered an RBI through the right side as Bellarmine broke up the shutout bid.

Tyler Hagedorn (3-3) then replaced Krizan and Bellarmine got some help when junior pinch hitter Derek Burns hit a ground ball to shortstop and the throw on the force-out attempt at second base was wide and allowed Gambert to slide in safely. The Knights scored once on that play and two more times when senior shortstop Drew Greenwood followed with a double to left.

Bellarmine was suddenly within 5-4 with runners on second and third. Pfaadt then sealed the comeback win when he laced a single down the first-base line that easily scored the tying and winning runs and set off a raucous celebration.

Higgins went 3 for 3 for the second straight game. Greenwood, Neuer and Ralph added two hits each. Sophomore right-hander Anthony Ethington (4-0) earned the unlikely win after tossing 2.1 scoreless innings of relief. Junior left-hander Eddie Mathis was strong in a no-decision, allowing two earned runs in 6.2 innings — the Knights allowed three unearned runs and their performance was largely forgettable until that unforgettable half inning.

In the tail end, the score was tied at 3 until Bellarmine racked up four runs in the fifth. The Knights loaded the bases with two outs after a Greenwood single and a pair of walks. Finerty was having a rough day at the plate at that point, but he changed his fortunes by tattooing a grand slam to left center. The homer was his fifth of the season.

Bellarmine tacked on a run in the sixth after sophomore center fielder Bobby Brokamp doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior pitcher Alex Phillips (4-1), who earned the win after throwing 2.1 innings of relief. Senior right-hander Duncan Amrein struck out both batters he faced after relieving Phillips in the seventh to record the save.

Higgins had a two-run single in Bellarmine's three-run second. The Knights scored their eight runs in the second game on just five hits.

Bellarmine will host Southern Indiana in another doubleheader at noon (ET) Saturday.

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