LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Bellarmine baseball fell 9-4 to Lipscomb in the opening game of the ASUN weekend series Thursday afternoon at Knights Field. 

Lipscomb jumped out early, scoring four runs across the first two innings to take control of the game. Bellarmine answered in the second with an RBI groundout from Eli Watson and an RBI single from Nick Gnardellis to cut the deficit to 4-2. 

After the early scoring, Chase Carver provided a steady presence on the mound out of the bullpen. Entering in the second inning, Carver delivered 5.1 innings of work, allowing four runs on six hits while limiting damage and keeping the Knights within striking distance deep into the game. 

Bellarmine chipped away with another run in the sixth as Logan Murphy drove in Watson with an RBI single to make it 5-3. However, Lipscomb broke the game open in the seventh with a three-run inning, extending the lead to 8-3. 

The Knights continued to battle offensively, finishing with 12 hits on the day. Murphy led the way with a three-hit performance, while Landon Akers and Jake Bell each recorded two hits. Akers added an RBI in the eighth to bring the score to 8-4. 

Lipscomb added a solo home run in the ninth to cap the scoring. 

Due to inclement weather expected on Saturday, Bellarmine and Lipscomb will conclude the series Friday with a doubleheader at Trinity High School, beginning at 1 p.m. ET. Game two will follow approximately 40 minutes after the conclusion of game one.

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