MURRAY, Ky. — The Bellarmine University baseball team dropped a 12-9 slugfest against Murray State on Tuesday at Johnny Reagan Field.

Bellarmine (6-34) compiled 13 hits, including a pair of home runs, while Murray State notched 14 hits and went deep five times. The contest came down to the final batter as the Knights had the tying run at the plate in the ninth with two on and two outs, but the Racers were able to record a strikeout to end it.

In a much-welcomed return after missing two months due to injury, senior designated hitter Davis Crane delivered an RBI single in the second and cranked a two-run homer in the fourth. He added a walk in finishing 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored.

Charlie Rife smashed his third homer of the season with a two-run drive in Bellarmine's four-run second. That gave the Knights a 4-3 lead, and Crane's long ball tied it at 6.

Murray State went ahead for good at 7-6 in the fourth on one its home runs. The Racers scored two that inning, and two more in the seventh and eighth.

Several players had multiple hits for Bellarmine. Senior center fielder Will Aubel went 3-for-5 and his two-out, two-run single in the ninth made things very interesting. Junior right fielder Jake Agarwal swatted a pair of doubles, including an RBI two-bagger in the sixth.

Agarwal, Crane, junior first baseman Casey Sorg and sophomore third baseman Brady Morse all collected two hits. Senior left-hander Thomas Sylvester fired 2.0 scoreless innings.

Bellarmine will host Kennesaw State in an ASUN series Friday-Sunday. The opener is set for 3 p.m. (ET).

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