LOUISVILLE, Ky. —
Tyler Neeley unburdened the Bellarmine University baseball team with one vicious swing.
On Monday afternoon at Knights Field, the first baseman crushed a go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth as Bellarmine rallied for a 5-3 victory over McKendree in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.
The blow that Neeley delivered was sorely needed, as the Knights (9-7, 2-1 GLVC) had badly struggled to produce a favorable outcome in close games. They entered the series finale with McKendree 0-5 in contests decided by two runs or less, including Sunday's 4-3 setback to the Bearcats (3-9, 1-2) in the second game of a doubleheader.
On Monday, Bellarmine led 2-1 through seven innings, but McKendree went ahead 3-2 after plating two runs in the eighth. The Knights, who took two of three from the Bearcats, had some good fortune in the bottom half of the inning. On what should have been the second out, McKendree allowed a base runner to reach first after a passed ball on a strikeout.
Sophomore shortstop
Clayton Mehlbauer followed by lacing a single through the left side. That set the stage for Neeley, who rocketed a three-run homer to center that propelled the Knights to a 5-3 lead. It was Neeley's fourth long ball of the season.
The two-run lead was safe with sophomore right-hander
Brandon Pfaadt, who retired the side in order in the ninth while recording his second save. Senior right-hander
Kyle Beach (2-1) relieved senior starter
Alex Phillips in the eighth and collected the win. Phillips tossed 7.1 strong innings, allowing two earned runs on nine hits with eight strikeouts against two walks.
In addition to his homer, Neeley doubled and finished 3 for 4 with three RBIs. Senior second baseman
Trevor Lines went 3 for 4 and Mehlbauer had two hits. In the fourth, Mehlbauer tripled and scored on a passed ball and Lines added an RBI single.
Bellarmine plays a three-game series Saturday and Sunday at Missouri-St. Louis. First pitch is at 1 p.m. (ET) each day. The doubleheader will be played Saturday.
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