LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Bellarmine University baseball team was edged 4-3 by Kentucky in a nonconference midweek game Tuesday at Kentucky Proud Park.

Bellarmine (8-14) yielded only one run to Kentucky (18-4) after the second inning. Freshman right-hander Devin Ecklar allowed one run in 4.1 innings of relief, and freshman right-hander Nolan Pender fired 2.0 perfect innings.

Junior shortstop Clayton Mehlbauer smashed his fifth home run of the season in the first, a solo shot to left field to provide Bellarmine a 1-0 lead. The Knights cut their deficit to 3-2 in the fourth after scoring a run following doubles by freshman first baseman Davis Crane and freshman designated hitter Tommy Dilz.

Kentucky took a 4-2 lead after scoring a run in the sixth, but Bellarmine countered with a run in the seventh. Sophomore center fielder Robert Sproul walked, stole second and raced all the way home after the throw to second was wild.

Trailing 4-3, Bellarmine went down in order in the eighth, but senior second baseman Justin Rouse singled to lead off the ninth. However, the Wildcats didn't allow the Knights to get a runner in scoring position before capturing their fifth straight win.

Six different Knights accounted for the team's six hits.

Bellarmine plays a three-game ASUN series Thursday-Saturday at Lipscomb.

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