LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University baseball team outhit Eastern Illinois, but the Panthers rode a pair of big innings to a 14-6 win Tuesday at Knights Field.

In his first at-bat since returning from injury, sophomore outfielder Jackson Case launched a two-run homer for Bellarmine (7-14), while senior left fielder Dylan Byerly racked up a career-high four hits against Eastern Illinois (11-4).

Case's first collegiate homer preceded an RBI single by junior outfielder Reed Blaszczyk that staked Bellarmine to a 3-1 lead in the second inning. The score was knotted at 3 after EIU scored two runs in the fifth, but the Panthers built a comfortable lead after posting six runs in the sixth.

Bellarmine made things interesting after cutting its deficit in half when junior first baseman Davis Crane highlighted a three-run bottom half with a two-run single, but EIU answered with four more runs in the seventh for a 13-6 lead. The Knights were held scoreless over the final three innings.

Bellarmine actually outhit EIU 14-11. In addition to Byerly's impressive outing, senior third baseman Colin Bertsch registered three hits while Blaszczyk and senior second baseman Peyton Back notched two apiece.

Sophomore right-hander Casey Sorg did not allow an earned run in 2.0 innings pitched for Bellarmine. Senior left-hander Steven Thom struck out two in two-thirds of a scoreless inning. Freshman right-hander Brady Morse and senior right-hander Matt Craven did not give up an earned run in 1.0 inning of relief each.

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

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