LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University baseball team provided another big threat to a Power 5 opponent, but Louisville managed to pull away late in capturing an 11-5 win Wednesday over the Knights at Jim Patterson Stadium.
After scoring three runs in the seventh, Bellarmine (2-15) had rallied to within 7-5 of the crosstown Cardinals (13-4). Senior first baseman
Jacob Mulcahy then led off the eighth with his second double of the contest, and junior catcher
Gabe Bratetic, who earlier had launched a tape-measure homer, drew a walk.
Michael Prosecky entered to pitch in what was perhaps the most critical moment of the game. The Knights failed to get a sacrifice bunt down in an at-bat that ended with a strikeout, and Prosecky followed by inducing an inning-ending double play.
Although Bellarmine's staff struggled with control in issuing 12 walks, the Knights didn't allow a great deal of hits. Louisville had only five through seven innings, but the Cardinals did add three more in a four-run eighth that put the contest out of reach.
Senior center fielder
Jack Ockerman was hit by a pitch with one out in the ninth, but Prosecky and the Cardinals followed with another double play, this time a game-ender. Prosecky, who notched his fifth save, helped steady Louisville's pitching, which also had some control issues with seven walks.
Bellarmine trailed 3-0 after three innings, but Bratetic got the Knights on the board in the fourth after crushing a no-doubt, two-run homer to left. Mulcahy had collected Bellarmine's first hit when he roped the first of his two doubles.
Bellarmine scored its final three runs in the seventh. A throwing error on a bunt single by Ockerman led to the first run of the frame, and senior third baseman
Colin Bertsch drove in two more with a two-out single through the left side.
Bellarmine will open ASUN play with a three-game series against Central Arkansas at Knights Field. First pitch in the series is scheduled for 2 p.m. (ET) Friday.
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