LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Bellarmine baseball rallied for a dramatic 9-6 victory over North Alabama on Sunday afternoon, scoring four runs in the ninth inning to secure the ASUN Conference series and tie the program's Division I-era record for ASUN conference wins in a season.
Trailing 6-5 entering the final frame — and previously 0-20 this season when trailing after eight innings — the Knights (19-27, 11-13 ASUN) delivered their most clutch offensive inning of the year to complete the comeback.
Bellarmine struck first in the opening inning, as Luke Scales delivered a bases-clearing single to give the Knights a 3-0 lead.
After North Alabama — the current leader in the ASUN Gold Division — responded with a two-run homer in the second, the Knights added on in the third. AJ Swader reached and scored on a defensive miscue before Eli Watson followed with an RBI single to extend the lead to 5-2.
North Alabama continued to battle back, using a three-run fourth inning to even the score before adding a run in the seventh to take a 6-5 lead into the ninth.
The Knights delivered in the final frame.
Landon Akers was hit by a pitch to open the inning, and Swader followed with a single to put pressure on the defense. After an error loaded the bases with no outs, Watson came through with the biggest swing of the game, driving a two-RBI double to right field to give Bellarmine a 7-6 lead.
Bellarmine continued to capitalize, as Scales brought home another run on a fielder's choice before an additional run scored later in the inning to cap the four-run rally and push the lead to 9-6.
Cade Rusch closed the door in the bottom half, working the final three innings and allowing just one run while striking out four to secure the win.
Watson led the offensive effort, finishing 3-for-4 with three RBIs on Sunday after a 3-for-5, five-RBI performance on Saturday, capping off a dominant weekend at the plate. Swader added three hits and scored three runs, while Scales drove in four RBIs in the win as Bellarmine totaled 12 hits.
On the mound, Chase Chamberlain recorded a career-high seven strikeouts across four innings in the start, while Chase Carver provided two scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
Bellarmine will travel to Carbondale, Illinois on Tuesday to face Southern Illinois at 7 p.m. ET.
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