KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Matt Higgins tied the Bellarmine University baseball team's program record for career home runs and the Knights were competitive for much of a Tuesday contest with No. 1 Tennessee, but the Vols managed to pull away for a 9-3 win at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Higgins launched a three-run homer in the sixth inning for Bellarmine (7-29), which faced a top-ranked team in the nation for the first time in the Division-I era. In doing, the senior outfielder tied Chris Gambert for the all-time program record with 36 career long balls. Additionally, Higgins moved into a tie with Zac Wiley for second place on the all-time RBI list with 170.

With the victory, Tennessee (34-3) improved to 26-1 at home. The two teams were scoreless after three innings, and after the Vols built a 5-0 lead, Higgins' 13th homer of the season cut the deficit to only two in the sixth. Tennessee, however, bookended a two-run seventh with one run each in the sixth and eighth to restore a comfortable advantage.

Tennessee posted just a 9-8 advantage in hits. Five of Bellarmine's knocks came in the sixth. In addition to Higgins' three-run shot, junior third baseman Peyton Back and senior second baseman Colin Bertsch both doubled and senior left fielder A.J. Arnold and sophomore first baseman Davis Crane both singled in the frame.

Back collected two hits and six players notched one each. Senior shortstop Clayton Mehlbauer also drew two walks.

Junior righthanders Drew Buhr and Nolan Pender and sophomore lefthander Gavin Braunecker tossed 1.0 scoreless inning apiece and did not allow a hit. Pender struck out two.

Bellarmine will play a three-game ASUN series at Central Arkansas starting at 7 p.m. (ET) Friday.

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