CLEVELAND, Tenn. — The Bellarmine University baseball team tied its lowest scoring output of the season and responded by racking up its highest.
In a Tuesday doubleheader at Olympic Field, the visiting Knights regrouped after a 12-2 loss to Lee in the opener with a 21-3 thrashing of the Flames in the tail end.
Bellarmine's 21 runs and 22 hits in Game 2 were both season highs as the Knights (7-5) won for the sixth time in seven games. Lee (9-9) recorded 14 hits in the opener. The offensive showings were that much more impressive considering both contests were seven-inning games.
Game 1: Lee 12, Bellarmine 2
Bellarmine couldn't have gotten off to a better start as senior center fielder
Alex Phillips attacked the first pitch he saw and launched a leadoff homer to right center.
But things quickly spiraled for the Knights after Phillips' second long ball of the season. Lee scored three runs apiece in the second, fifth and sixth innings on top of two in the third and another in the fourth.
Junior third baseman
Deylen Miley collected three of Bellarmine's seven hits. The Knights' only other run came on a sacrifice fly by senior right fielder
Zac Wiley in the seventh.
Game 2: Bellarmine 21, Lee 3
For the second straight game, Bellarmine led off the contest with a homer as sophomore left fielder
Matt Higgins connected for his second round-tripper of the season.
This time it was a signal of things to come. In its previous doubleheader against Hilldale, Bellarmine exploded for a six-run inning and then a 10-run inning. On Tuesday, the Knights poured in nine runs in the fourth against the Flames. They also scored four runs apiece in the third and fifth and added three in the sixth.
Multiple players had robust performances. Higgins finished 4 for 5 with four RBIs and four runs scored. Sophomore third baseman
Jacob Mulcahy delivered a 5-for-6 outing, and senior second baseman
Trevor Lines doubled twice in going 4 for 5 with four RBIs and three runs scored. Wiley was a third Knight with four RBIs, Miley registered three hits, junior catcher
Chris Gambert chipped in two hits and sophomore shortstop
Clayton Mehlbauer was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and four runs scored.
Junior right-hander
Anthony Ethington (1-0) came on in the fourth and earned the win after allowing one run on four hits in 4.0 innings.
The teams will meet in a single game at 2 p.m. (ET) Wednesday.
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GAME 1 BOX SCORE (HTM)
GAME 2 BOX SCORE (HTM)
