LOUISVILLE, Ky. — One walk-filled inning undermined the chances of a Bellarmine University baseball comeback attempt Tuesday as the Knights fell 7-4 to Butler at home in nonconference action.

While Butler (11-13) had a three-run third, it was the Bulldogs' four-run fifth that saw Bellarmine (3-21) walk six batters that was the main reason for the loss. Butler needed only one hit in the inning to score the four runs — and it was an infield single.

With a 7-0 lead, Butler did give one run back in the bottom of the fifth after committing a pair of errors, but Bellarmine had the bats going in its three-run sixth. After a leadoff double down the line by senior shortstop Clayton Mehlbauer, senior left fielder Matt Higgins laced an RBI single to center.

Senior right fielder A.J. Arnold also had a long single in the inning, and junior catcher Gabe Bratetic drove in two with a sharp hit up the middle. Bellarmine and Butler had six hits apiece.

Adrian Vega was perhaps the player of the game for Butler. The Bulldogs' reliever kept the Knights from an even bigger inning in the sixth by ending the frame with a pair of strikeouts. He then locked up a save and a Butler win by throwing three scoreless innings, retiring the side in order in the last two. In total, Vega didn't allow a hit while fanning six in 3.2 shutout innings.

Zac Common was outstanding in relief for Bellarmine. The sophomore righthander fired 4.1 scoreless innings, striking out three while allowing three hits and walking only one.

Bellarmine will host Lipscomb in a three-game ASUN series starting at 2 p.m. (ET) Friday.

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