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Bellarmine University Athletics

Nolan Pender
Brian Westerholt
0
Bellarmine BELL 0-1
1
Winner Virginia VA 1-0
Bellarmine BELL
0-1
0
Final
1
Virginia VA
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Bellarmine BELL 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1
Virginia VA 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 1 6 0

W: Geerdes, W. (1-0) L: Pender, Nolan (0-1) S: Wyatt, M. (1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | by Adam Pruiett, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

Pender, Ecklar excel on mound, but No. 5 Virginia ekes out 1-0 win over Knights

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. — The Bellarmine University baseball team opened the season Friday by engaging in a pitcher's duel with No. 5 Virginia in the Jerry Bryson Classic hosted by Gardner-Webb.

Ultimately, the game was decided by an unearned run scored in the second inning by Virginia, as the Cavaliers squeaked out a 1-0 win over the upset-minded Knights at Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium.

Junior righthanders Nolan Pender and Devin Ecklar delivered an exceptional collective performance on the mound for Bellarmine (0-1) against Virginia (1-0), which is coming off a berth in the College World Series and was picked to finish second in the ACC preseason coaches' poll.

Pender (0-1) didn't allow an earned run in 6.0 innings while yielding five hits and striking out three against one walk. Ecklar tossed 2.0 scoreless innings of relief, striking out the side in the seventh and fanning another batter in the eighth.

Virginia's Chris Newell reached on an error to open the second inning and scored on an RBI double by Jake Gelof. It turned out that would be the only run to cross the plate.

Bellarmine loaded the bases with one out in the fifth inning when senior center fielder Jack Ockerman singled after senior right fielder Jacob Mulcahy and junior second baseman Drew Buhr were both hit by pitches. Virginia escaped unscathed after Will Geerdes relieved Brandon Neeck and induced an inning-ending double play.

Bellarmine had another opportunity in the eighth when junior catcher Gabe Bratetic led off with a single, but the Knights would strand a base runner at third. Virginia's Matt Wyatt followed by retiring the side in order in the ninth to secure the win and earn a save.

Geerdes (1-0) pocketed the win on the mound for the Cavaliers. He combined with Neeck and Wyatt for a two-hitter behind seven strikeouts.

Bellarmine will continue play in the Jerry Bryson Classic with two games Saturday. The Knights will meet NJIT at 11 a.m. (ET) before facing Gardner-Webb at 7 p.m.

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