RICHMOND, Ky. — Eastern Kentucky scored a run in the ninth inning in posting an 8-7 walk-off win over the Bellarmine University baseball team in an Atlantic Sun Conference series opener Friday at Earle Combs Stadium.

Most of the scoring between Bellarmine (7-38, 6-16 ASUN) and Eastern Kentucky (15-31, 9-13) occurred in the first two innings, when the teams combined for 11 of the 15 total runs plated in the contest.

Sophomore catcher Charlie Rife blasted a grand slam in the second for Bellarmine. His fourth homer of the season provided the Knights a 5-4 lead.

After Eastern Kentucky plated two in the bottom of the second, Bellarmine regained the lead in a two-run fourth as senior center fielder Will Aubel launched his third homer of the season, and sophomore shortstop Luke Scales added an RBI single in the frame.

Pitching largely took over from there. Eastern Kentucky held Bellarmine scoreless over the last 5.0 innings. The Knights also received terrific relief work, as senior right-hander Ryan Johnson, senior right-hander Devin Ecklar and senior right-hander Ross Goldschlag combined to allow a single earned run in 7.2 innings.

Bellarmine racked up 11 hits. Scales, junior first baseman Casey Sorg, junior right fielder Jake Agarwal and junior second baseman Andres Castro notched two apiece.

Eastern Kentucky had a four-run first inning and two-run second. The Colonels tied it at 7 with a run in the sixth. They were able to secure the walk-off win with two outs in the ninth.

The second game is set for 6 p.m. (ET) Saturday.

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