LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University baseball team rallied late but ultimately fell 15–9 to Austin Peay in the ASUN series opener Friday afternoon at Knights Field. 

Austin Peay built an early lead with runs in the first and a big eight-run third inning to take control of the game. Bellarmine chipped away with solo home runs from Mason Acton, his first of the season, in the second inning and Jake Bell in the fourth to keep the Knights within striking distance. 

The Knights' offense came alive in the sixth inning. After a pair of runs scored on a defensive miscue and a wild pitch, Charlie Rife delivered the biggest swing of the inning with a three-run home run to left field to cut the deficit to 10–7. Moments later, AJ Swader doubled to right field to bring Bellarmine within two runs. The Knights continued to push in the seventh as Jake Bell doubled down the left-field line to score Connor Pawlowski, trimming the deficit to 10–9 and completing an eight-run surge across two innings. 

The rally ultimately came up short as the Governors responded in the top of the ninth inning with five runs, including a three-run home run, to secure the 15-9 win. 

Up Next: Bellarmine continues its ASUN series with Austin Peay on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Knights Field. 

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