FLORENCE, Ala. — The Bellarmine University baseball team piled up seven runs in the second inning and rolled from there in a 15-5 win over North Alabama in an Atlantic Sun Conference series opener Thursday at Bank Independent Stadium.

Meeting in their second series this season, Bellarmine (10-27, 6-10 ASUN) tied a season high with 14 hits against North Alabama (13-22, 8-8) while the Knights' 15 runs were their second most in ASUN play and third overall. BU put up big numbers in three separate innings, tallying seven runs in the second, three in the third and four in the eighth, which was ultimately the final frame as the Knights achieved the run-rule victory.

In the seven-run second, freshman Christian Kiper, junior Joey Milto and senior Casey Sorg all delivered RBI singles before junior Luke Scales clubbed a three-run double. Senior Seth Sweet-Chick also drove in a run in the frame.

Milto socked a bases-clearing double in the third as Bellarmine's lead swelled to 10-4. He then singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch in the fifth for an 11-4 advantage.

Bellarmine tacked on four runs on five hits in the eighth. Kiper had an RBI single and freshman Landon Akers a sacrifice fly in the frame while junior Charlie Rife drove in a run.

Sophomore right-hander Chase Carver earned his third win while throwing the first 5.0 innings. Senior right-hander Arren Hash followed with 2.0 scoreless innings while senior right-hander Cooper Hellman entered with two on and nobody out in the eighth and fanned three straight Lions to end the contest.

Milto, Scales and Kiper registered three hits apiece while Sorg added two. Milto accumulated four RBI and Scales supplied three.

The teams will meet in the second game of the series at 3 p.m. ET (2 CT) Friday.

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