LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University baseball team got off on the right foot to start ASUN play.

On Friday at Knights Field, junior righthander Nolan Pender delivered a terrific start and Bellarmine rode two runs apiece in the fifth and seventh innings to a 4-2 victory over Central Arkansas.

Pender tossed 8.0 effective innings for Bellarmine (3-15, 1-0 ASUN), which is now 2-0 at home after playing the vast majority of its pre-conference slate away from Knights Field. Central Arkansas (5-11, 0-1) managed 10 hits against Pender (1-3), but the righty walked only one and struck out seven while allowing just two runs and largely avoiding serious trouble.

Central Arkansas took a 2-0 lead on a solo homer by Noa Argenta in the third and added another run in the fourth. ASUN Preseason All-Conference selection Trevor Cleveland (0-1) held Bellarmine scoreless over the first four innings, but the Knights struck for two runs in the fifth.

Junior second baseman Brett Pfaadt led off the frame with a single and advanced to third on a double by senior center fielder Jack Ockerman. Pfaadt scored on a wild pitch, and Ockerman raced home with the tying run on a sacrifice fly by senior shortstop Clayton Mehlbauer.

Mehlbauer then led off the seventh by reaching on a throwing error. He came around with the go-ahead run on the second double of the contest by senior left fielder Matt Higgins, who painted the left-field line with a dart. Two batters later, and after a pitching change, sophomore first baseman Davis Crane, who made his return from injury, clubbed a double to left to plate Higgins.

Central Arkansas got two batters on in the eighth, but Pender ended the inning with his seventh and final strikeout. Junior righthander Devin Ecklar entered to start the ninth and got two quick outs. The Bears would load the bases on a walk, single and hit by pitch, but Ecklar ended the threat and recorded his first save by inducing a game-ending ground out.

Bellarmine finished with nine hits. Higgins, junior catcher Gabe Bratetic and junior third baseman Peyton Back collected two each.

Bellarmine will host Central Arkansas in the second game of the series at 2 p.m. (ET) Saturday.

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