LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Bellarmine baseball snapped a four-game losing streak Tuesday afternoon, defeating Dayton 8-6 at Woerner Field to close out an eight-game road swing on a high note. The win marked Bellarmine's 17th of the season, matching last year's total and tying for the most in the program's Division I era.

A slow start at the plate defined the early innings for the Knights, as Bellarmine managed just two runs through the first six frames while working to find rhythm offensively. Dayton built a 5-2 advantage through four innings, capitalizing on a three-run fourth to take control. 

Bellarmine began to chip away in the seventh before delivering the decisive blow in the eighth. After loading the bases and creating pressure, the Knights broke through with a four-run inning, capitalizing on timely hits and free passes. Eli Watson drove in a pair, while AJ Swader delivered a key extra-base hit as Bellarmine flipped a 6-3 deficit into a 7-6 lead. The Knights carried that momentum into the ninth, adding an insurance run to secure the 8-6 victory. 

Swader's triple in the game marked his 50th RBI of the season, making him just the second player in Bellarmine's Division I era to reach the milestone. 

On the mound, Connor Sims turned in his longest outing of the season, working four innings with four strikeouts. Drew Jennings provided a strong bridge out of the bullpen with two scoreless innings, before Karl Ralamb delivered a clean seventh inning and earned the win. Cade Rusch closed the door over the final two innings to record his third save of the year. 

Bellarmine finished with 10 hits on the afternoon, with Landon Akers leading the way with three hits, while Luke Scales added a multi-hit performance. 

Bellarmine returns home to Knights Field this weekend to host Central Arkansas in an ASUN Conference series, with games scheduled Friday through Sunday.

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