LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Exceptional pitching in the opener and impressive hitting throughout the doubleheader highlighted the Bellarmine University baseball team's first two Division I home games.

However, that combination didn't quite lead to a sweep of Eastern Illinois on Tuesday at Knights Field, as Bellarmine pounded the Panthers 11-1 in the opener before the Knights' comeback bid fell short in the tail end in a 13-10 loss.

Game 1: Bellarmine 11, Eastern Illinois 1
Bellarmine (1-4) notched its first D1 victory, and in commanding fashion against EIU (5-4). The Knights scored five runs in the third and never really looked back due to their work on the mound.

Bellarmine used a pitcher-by-committee approach. Senior left-hander Shane Barringer, senior right-hander Deylen Miley (1-1) and junior right-hander Reece Davis — the team's weekend starters — combined with senior right-handers Jacob Nagel and Anthony Ethington — two primary relievers — for solid outings from top to bottom.

The group combined to allow one run on four hits with seven strikeouts against three walks. Barringer pitched the opening inning and then Miley, Davis, Nagel and Ethington tossed 2.0 apiece.

In the five-run third, senior designated hitter/outfielder Chris Gambert followed junior outfielder Matt Higgins' two-run single by blasting a three-run homer to right center. Bellarmine tacked on two more runs in the sixth on senior catcher Patrick Arndt's RBI double and senior second baseman Justin Rouse's RBI single.

Bellarmine racked up four more runs in the eighth as Higgins hammered an RBI double off the centerfield wall, and Gambert and junior shortstop Clayton Mehlbauer added RBI singles.

Higgins went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, Gambert was 2-for-5 with four RBIs and Rouse went 2-for-2.

Game 2: Eastern Illinois 13, Bellarmine 10
Things couldn't have started much worse for Bellarmine, as the Knights trailed 9-0 after three innings.

Bellarmine scored twice in the fourth and the fifth and trailed 10-5 after six innings, but Eastern Illinois scored three runs in the top of the seventh to seemingly put the game out of reach.

Turns out, just barely.

Bellarmine scored five runs in the seventh and final inning, highlighted by a tape-measure grand slam from Higgins. The Knights got the tying run to the plate before EIU was finally able to turn back the rally.

The teams finished the seven-inning affair with 14 hits apiece. Higgins went 3-for-5 with five RBIs. Junior utility Jacob Mulcahy smashed a solo homer to right center and finished with two hits. Senior third baseman Josh Finerty, Mehlbauer and freshman first baseman Noah Nelson added two hits each.

Sophomore left-hander Nick Parrish tossed 2.0 scoreless innings.

Bellarmine will host Eastern Michigan in a four-game series from Friday-Sunday.

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