HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. — Northern Kentucky scored eight runs apiece in the second and sixth innings on the way to an 18-8 win over the Bellarmine University baseball team Tuesday at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex.

Northern Kentucky (8-4) built a 10-0 lead over Bellarmine (5-7) after two innings after the Norse's initial eight-run inning. The Knights responded with two runs in the third and five in the fourth to rally within three, but NKU answered with another eight-run frame, this time in the sixth.

Freshman catcher Charlie Rife cranked his first collegiate homer for Bellarmine. He collected two hits, as did junior right fielder Reed Blaszczyk and senior second baseman Peyton Back. Blaszczyk doubled and notched two RBI.

Rife went deep in the third inning and Back followed Blaszczyk's double with an RBI single. In the next inning, Blaszczyk had a two-run single after a double by freshman first baseman Brady Morse, an RBI single by senior center fielder Will Aubel and a sacrifice fly by senior shortstop Brett Pfaadt.

Senior left fielder Tommy Dilz plated Bellarmine's fifth run of the inning with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 10-7. The Knights were held scoreless over the next two frames while NKU restored its big lead, but BU added one more run in the seventh after consecutive singles by Back and sophomore designated hitter Casey Sorg helped set up Morse's sacrifice fly.

Bellarmine registered 11 hits, with eight different Knights supplying at least one. Senior right-hander Devin Ecklar tossed 3.1 scoreless innings of relief and struck out two.

Bellarmine will play a four-game series at Indiana starting at 4 p.m. (ET) Thursday.

For more coverage of Bellarmine athletics, follow us on Twitter (@BUKnights), Instagram (BUKnights) and Facebook (BUKnights).