The Knights struck first in the opening inning, jumping out to an early 2-0 lead behind a two-run home run from Landon Akers. The blast, his second big swing of the series, plated Sawyer Pace and gave Bellarmine the early lead. 

North Alabama responded in the middle innings, evening the game in the third before taking control in the fourth. A two-run home run followed by an RBI single helped the Lions build a 5-2 advantage, and another solo shot in the fifth extended the lead to four. 

Bellarmine chipped away late, cutting into the deficit in the eighth inning. Akers delivered again with an RBI single, and the Knights added another run on a fielding error to make it a 6-4 contest heading into the ninth. 

However, North Alabama answered with a solo home run in the top of the ninth to regain a three-run cushion and close the door on the Knights. 

Akers led the offensive effort, finishing 2-for-5 with three RBIs and a home run, while Bellarmine totaled nine hits on the afternoon.

The Knights will wrap up the series tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET, with the series on the line.

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