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Bellarmine University Athletics

Gnardellis Walk off NKU
John Sommers II
6
Northern Ky. NKU
7
Winner Bellarmine BELL
Northern Ky. NKU
6
Final
7
Bellarmine BELL
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Northern Ky. NKU 3 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 6 6 1
Bellarmine BELL 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 1 7 13 0

W: Rusch, Cade (1-0) L: Gabe Stout (1-1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Britton Libke, Assistant Director Athletic Communications

Knights Walk It Off to Defeat NKU

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University baseball team erased an early deficit and delivered a walk-off victory Tuesday afternoon, defeating Northern Kentucky 7–6 at Knights Field. The win marks Bellarmine's first victory over NKU since 2010 and the program's first against the Norse in the Division I era.

Bellarmine (7 runs, 13 hits) showed resilience throughout, overcoming a choppy start and multiple deficits before completing the comeback late.  

Northern Kentucky jumped out to an early 3–0 lead in the first inning behind a three-run home run. Bellarmine answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half, capitalizing on pressure and forcing miscues to cut the deficit to one.  

The Norse extended their lead to 6–2 in the fourth, but the Knights continued to chip away. Bellarmine plated two runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by a run-scoring fielder's choice from Jake Bell and a sacrifice fly from Landon Akers to make it 6–4.  

After several scoreless frames, the Knights capitalized in the eighth. With runners on, Akers delivered a clutch two-RBI single up the middle to tie the game at 6–6, completing the comeback and shifting momentum fully in Bellarmine's favor.  

On the mound, the Bellarmine bullpen settled things down after a rocky start. A group effort kept the Norse scoreless over the final five innings, allowing the offense time to respond.  

In the bottom of the ninth, Bellarmine capitalized once more. After Luke Scales reached and moved into scoring position, Nick Gnardellis delivered the game-winning hit, driving in the decisive run to secure the 7–6 walk-off victory.  

Akers led the way offensively with three RBI's, while Gnardellis added two hits and the game-winning RBI. AJ Swader and Eli Watson each recorded multi-hit performances as part of Bellarmine's 13-hit effort.  

Bellarmine continues its home stand as the Knights return to action Friday at Knights Field to begin a three-game series against North Alabama. First pitch Friday is at 3 p.m. ET.  

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

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