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Bellarmine University Athletics

Davis Crane
Brian Westerholt
4
Winner Bellarmine BELL 1-2
2
Gardner-Webb GWU 0-3
Winner
Bellarmine BELL
1-2
4
Final
2
Gardner-Webb GWU
0-3
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Bellarmine BELL 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 6 1
Gardner-Webb GWU 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 3 1

W: Craven, Matt (1-0) L: GLEESON, C (0-1)

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

Baseball rallies with 3 runs in the ninth to top GWU, earn first win of season

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. — The Bellarmine University baseball team collected its first win of 2022 in dramatic fashion, as the Knights rallied with three runs in the ninth to pull out a 4-2 victory Saturday night over host Gardner-Webb in the Jerry Bryson Classic at Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium.

Bellarmine (1-2) trailed 2-1 entering the ninth and had struggled all game making contact at the plate against Gardner-Webb (0-3), whose pitchers piled up 19 strikeouts.

With one out, junior second baseman Brett Pfaadt was hit by a pitch by Connor Gleeson (0-1), and senior center fielder Jack Ockerman followed with a single up the middle. Gabe Pilla relieved Gleeson, and after Bellarmine's baserunners advanced on a passed ball, senior shortstop Clayton Mehlbauer tied it up with a sacrifice fly.

The Knights proceeded to load the bases when senior left fielder Matt Higgins was intentionally walked, and senior pinch hitter Colin Bertsch drew another walk off a full count. Sophomore first baseman Davis Crane propelled Bellarmine ahead with a two-run double.

Senior righthander Matt Craven (1-0) retired the side in order in the ninth, striking out the final two batters to seal the victory. Craven was outstanding in long relief, earning the win after tossing 5.0 innings while allowing one earned run on two hits with four strikeouts against no walks.

In his first collegiate start, Arren Hash also impressed. The freshman righthander worked 4.0 solid innings while allowing one earned run on one hit and three walks with two strikeouts. Gardner-Webb launched one solo homer apiece against Hash and Craven, but the Knights' duo didn't allow anything else.

GWU starter Bobby Alcock was dominant with 11 strikeouts over 5.0 innings pitched, but he had a rocky beginning, opening the game with consecutive walks to Mehlbauer and Higgins. The pair pulled off a double steal and, with two outs, Mehlbauer came home on a wild pitch for an early 1-0 lead.

Crane swatted two doubles in registering two of Bellarmine's six hits.

Bellarmine will conclude play in the Jerry Bryson Classic by meeting Gardner-Webb again at 3 p.m. (ET) Sunday.

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