OXFORD, Ala. — The Bellarmine University baseball team fell 13-7 to Northern Kentucky in a series opener Friday at Choccolocco Park.

Northern Kentucky (1-3) took control over Bellarmine (0-4) with a five-run fifth, turning a 3-2 deficit into a 7-3 lead. The Norse added two in the sixth and, after the Knights cut it to 9-6 in the eighth, NKU responded with a four-run bottom half.

Northern Kentucky outhit Bellarmine 13-5. However, the Knights did have plenty of baserunners as they drew eight walks and had four batters hit by pitches. BU left eight on base.

Sophomore right-hander Chase Carver notched career highs with 5.0 innings pitched and eight strikeouts for Bellarmine. He struck out the side in the fourth and fifth innings.

Bellarmine got on the board first as junior outfielder Eli Watson tripled and scored on a passed ball in the second inning. The Knights took a 3-2 lead in the fourth when junior designated hitter Brady Morse lifted a sacrifice fly and Watson followed a steal of third by scoring on an error.

Northern Kentucky took the lead with seven unanswered runs before Bellarmine plated two in the seventh on an RBI double by senior shortstop Seth Sweet-Chick and a sacrifice fly by junior right fielder Joey Milto. The Knights added a run in the eighth on a wild pitch and another in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Watson.

NKU starter Conner Linn collected the win after striking out seven while allowing one earned run over 6.0 innings. Gabe Miranda tallied four RBI and it was his go-ahead three-run homer that gave the Norse the lead for good.

The teams will play the second of the three-game series at 1 p.m. (ET) Saturday.

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