LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University baseball team's final regular-season series got off to a rough start, as the Knights were defeated 11-3 by Youngstown State on Friday at Knights Field.

Sophomore right-hander Matt Craven tossed 4.0 scoreless innings of relief for Bellarmine (13-32), allowing just a single hit to Youngstown State (27-21). The Penguins cooled off against Craven but still finished with 12 hits, including a grand slam that highlighted a six-run fourth that sparked the lopsided win.

Senior left fielder Chris Gambert cranked a solo homer in the sixth, his 11th round-tripper of the season. Gambert recently became the program's home-run king and pushed his career total to 36.

Gambert and junior right fielder Jacob Mulcahy had two hits apiece. Senior catcher Patrick Arndt added an RBI single.

Bellarmine and Youngstown State will meet in the second of the three-game series at 2 p.m. (ET) Saturday at Knights Field.

NOTE: At Saturday's game, our friends from Hometown Pizza will be setting up a pop-up beer garden in the parking lot with $5 drafts and non-alcoholic beverages available as well.

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