ASHEVILLE, NC — UNC Asheville scored nine runs in the fifth inning in defeating the Bellarmine University baseball team 20-3 in a series opener Friday at Greenwood Baseball Field.

UNC Asheville (1-4) notched its first win of the season behind 17 hits. The Bulldogs led 3-1 after four innings but blew it open with the nine-run fifth. They tacked on five more runs in the sixth and three in the seventh.

Junior right-hander Cooper Hellman had an effective start for Bellarmine (1-4), striking out five while not allowing an earned run in 4.0 innings of work. However, the Knights accumulated five errors in the game, and the first three runs they surrendered were unearned.

Senior first baseman Reed Blaszczyk launched his first homer of the season in the first inning while finishing with a pair of hits. The Knights added a pair of runs in the sixth, one off a sacrifice fly by junior designated hitter Matt Flaherty.

Junior right-hander Webster Walls tossed a scoreless inning in relief for Bellarmine, which will meet UNC Asheville in Game 2 at 1 p.m. (ET) Saturday.

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