SOMERS, Wisc. — Saturday's doubleheader at Oberbruner Field yielded two very different results for the Bellarmine University baseball team.
In their highest-scoring effort in over 20 years, the Knights defeated Wisconsin-Parkside 24-6 before they were largely held in check in a 6-3 loss in the tail end.
The 24 runs scored was the most since Bellarmine (23-9, 8-2 GLVC) scored 30 against IUPUI in a 30-9 pulverizing in 1996. However, the exhilaration of piling up that staggering output was tempered when the Rangers (2-17, 1-5) recovered to post just their second win of the season in the finale.
In addition to the massive amount of runs, Bellarmine easily compiled a season high with 24 hits in the opener and 14 different players contributed to that new benchmark. Perhaps lost — but certainly not forgotten — in the midst of the avalanche of runs was another stellar start by junior left-hander
Eddie Mathis (5-1), who struck out 11 while allowing a single hit in 5.0 dominant innings in notching the win.
Bellarmine put the game away with a nine-run first. The Knights also scored five runs each in the third and fourth and added a three-run eighth.
Junior center fielder
Alex Phillips launched his first career home run, a three-run shot in the third. Phillips finished 3 for 3 with five RBIs. Freshman designated hitter
Matt Higgins also blasted his first collegiate homer, a solo shot in the second. He finished 2 for 3 with three RBIs and four runs scored.
Including those two homers, Bellarmine racked up 11 extra-base hits, nine of which were doubles. Junior
Derek Burns collected a pair of two-baggers.
Junior third baseman
Josh Finerty went 3 for 4 with three runs scored. Senior shortstop
Drew Greenwood, junior right fielder
Zac Wiley, freshman
Andrew Sams and sophomore
Chris Gambert had two hits each. Junior first baseman
Jacob Pendred reached base in all four plate appearances, including with a double, and scored three times.
The offensive production didn't carry over into the second game, as UWP's Nicholas Rana (2-2) was strong in earning a complete-game victory. He struck out 10 and yielded only three hits and two earned runs.
Greenwood, Wiley and senior left fielder
Griffin Neuer had one hit each in the finale. Wisconsin-Parkside scored all six of its runs in the third inning, while Bellarmine scored once in the fourth and two in the sixth. Sophomore right-hander
Jacob Nagel (4-2) took the loss.
Bellarmine plays another doubleheader Sunday at Wisconsin-Parkside. First pitch is at 1 p.m. (ET).
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GAME 1 BOX SCORE (HTM)
GAME 2 BOX SCORE (HTM)
