TROY, Ala. — The Bellarmine University baseball team had the tying run on deck when No. 25 Troy managed to finish off a 7-3 win Saturday over the Knights at Riddle-Pace Field.

With two on, two out and Preseason All-ASUN Team selection Casey Sorg up next, the contest ended somewhat controversially as a game-ending, called strike three on a 3-2 count appeared to be both low and inside.

As it stood, Troy (2-0) clinched the three-game series after winning the opening two contests against the Knights (0-2). That was despite a strong Bellarmine debut and start from sophomore left-hander Aaron Ragat, who allowed only one run over 4.0 innings pitched.

Bellarmine led 1-0 at that point after freshman catcher Mason Acton smacked an RBI double off the wall in the third, but control issues on the mound carried over from Game 1. The Knights' staff issued 14 walks.

Troy tied it at 1 in the fourth and scored three runs apiece in the sixth and seventh. Bellarmine got a run in the top half of the seventh on a throwing error and the Knights added another in the ninth when junior right fielder Joey Milto launched his first collegiate homer, an opposite-field solo shot.

Bellarmine made it interesting in the last inning as Acton walked and another Knight reached on an error before Troy managed to stave off the threat.

Five Knights recorded one hit each. Senior right-hander Cooper Hellman tossed 1.1 scoreless innings of relief.

The series finale is set for 2 p.m. (ET) Sunday.

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