LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University baseball team fell 7-2 Friday to Eastern Michigan at Knights Field in the first of a four-game series.

Bellarmine (1-5) finished with the same amount of hits as Eastern Michigan (3-0) — eight — but the Knights walked 11 batters. The Eagles scored three times in the fifth to increase their lead to 5-0 and they led 7-0 before Bellarmine scored twice in the ninth.

Junior left fielder Matt Higgins and junior center fielder Jack Ockerman had two hits apiece for Bellarmine. They both doubled as did senior third baseman Josh Finerty. Junior right fielder Jacob Mulcahy chipped in an RBI single.

Freshman newcomer Davis Crane and freshman second baseman Brett Pfaadt both collected their first collegiate hits, with Crane also notching an RBI. Freshman right-hander Adam Spalding tossed 1.1 scoreless innings of relief and freshman newcomer and left-hander Gavin Braunecker added 1.0 shutout inning in their first respective collegiate appearances.

Bellarmine will host Eastern Michigan in a doubleheader starting at noon (ET) Saturday.

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