LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For the second straight game, early run production coupled with a stout collective performance on the mound translated to victory for the Bellarmine University baseball team.

In its 2025 home debut, Bellarmine scored all six of its runs over the first four innings while sophomore right-hander Sam Matherly set the tone on the rubber in a 6-4 win over Dayton at Knights Field.

Matherly started and fired 4.0 shutout innings for Bellarmine (2-9), which secured its second straight win and first at home on its first attempt in the Ben Reel era. In BU's previous victory, 10-5 at Charleston Southern, the Knights racked up nine runs in the first three innings before exceptional pitching took them home.

Tuesday was very similar. Senior right-hander Blake Donnan, who earned the win, followed Matherly with 3.0 solid innings while senior right-hander Cooper Hellman notched his first save after closing it out with 2.0 innings of work against Dayton (6-7).

Bellarmine's damage at the plate came in the first stages of the contest. Aggressive baserunning paid off in the second when junior third baseman Luke Scales scored from second on an infield single by senior shortstop Seth Sweet-Chick. After a single by freshman second baseman Landon Akers loaded the bases, junior right fielder Joey Milto drove in two with a sharp single for a 3-0 lead.

Bellarmine plated two more runs in the third after starting out with the bases empty and two outs. Junior designated hitter Brady Morse doubled down the line and scored on a single by junior catcher Charlie Rife. Sweet-Chick followed with an RBI single to boost the lead to 5-0.

Bellarmine scored its final run in the fourth inning, once again after beginning the frame with two outs. Junior left fielder Eli Watson, Scales and Morse strung together consecutive singles, with Morse's base knock plating a run for a 6-0 advantage.

Bellarmine's pitching and defense — the Knights turned a huge 5-4-3 inning-ending double play with the bases loaded to end the top of the eighth — held down the fort from there. A two-run homer and a solo homer from Michael DiMartini provided the bulk of the Flyers' run production.

Akers, Morse and Sweet-Chick registered two hits apiece. The Knights totaled 11 while Dayton collected eight.

Bellarmine will play Friday-Sunday in a three-game series at Southern Illinois. The opener is set for 6 p.m. (ET).

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