OXFORD, Ala. — Despite its most prolific performance offensively of the early season, the Bellarmine University baseball team couldn't quite keep pace with the run production of Northern Kentucky, which sealed a series sweep Sunday with a 17-12 victory over the Knights at Choccolocco Park.

The offensive output was encouraging for Bellarmine (0-6). Seniors Casey Sorg and Seth Sweet-Chick and freshman Christian Kiper all launched their first respective homers of the season for the Knights. It was the first collegiate round-tripper for Kiper and the first in a BU uniform for Sweet-Chick, whose blast was a grand slam.

Bellarmine posted a three-run second inning and exploded for seven in the seventh against NKU (3-3). The Knights registered 12 hits, with three doubles in addition to the three homers.

Kiper smacked a three-run shot to stake Bellarmine to a 3-1 lead in the second inning. Sorg cranked a two-run blast to get a comeback started in the seventh, a seven-run frame which culminated in a go-ahead grand slam from Sweet-Chick for an 11-8 advantage.

Unfortunately, Northern Kentucky's Josh Williams matched Sweet-Chick's grand slam with one of his own in the bottom half, which was the climax of a six-run response as the Norse vaulted back ahead 14-11.

Sorg had an RBI single in the third and followed his homer with a double in the eighth. He scored on a two-bagger by junior Eli Watson to cut the deficit to 14-12.

Northern Kentucky answered with a three-run bottom half to turn away the Knights for good. The Norse also finished with 12 hits but were greatly helped by nine walks and seven hit batsmen.

Sorg, Watson and junior Luke Scales collected three hits each for Bellarmine.

The Knights will host Dayton at 2 p.m. (ET) Wednesday.

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