BOX SCORE
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--In a game that started as high scoring affair but ended a pitching duel, the Bellarmine Knights fell 8-6 to the visiting Campbellsville University Tigers this afternoon.
The teams combined for nine runs in the first inning as Campbellsville opened the top of the first with four runs on four hits and helped along a hit batter and a Bellarmine error.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Knights sent 11 batters to the plate and put up five runs with just three hits. After a hit batter, a single, and a walk loaded the bases, David Weinstein was hit by a pitch to force in the first Bellarmine run. Zach Blanchard then followed with a bases-loaded walk, and Kal Scheler singled through the right side to plate another run. Sam “Ox” Burke followed with a sacrifice fly. Catcher Kyle Roden delivered an RBI single to score Blanchard from third and end the Knights' scoring.
Campbellsville tied it at 5-5 in the top of the second after Sam Robinson walked the lead off batter, then threw wide on a pick off attempt, allowing the runner to advance to third and later scored on a ground out.
After the Knights were held scoreless in the bottom of the second inning, Campbellsville took the lead for good in the top of the third. Gabe Arcoleo led off with a double to left center and a hit batter and a walk loaded the bases. Anthony Rossetto then singled home a run, and the Tigers made it 7-5 when Gilbert Briones' ground ball gave BU shortstop Mike Morrissette just one option: a force out at third.
Both teams were scoreless for the next four innings , but the visitors tacked on an insurance run in the top of the eighth.
Bellarmine made a comeback in the bottom of the ninth. Burke and Roden led off with singles and Trevor Parsons drew a 1-out walk to load the bases. After Morrissette flied out just in the outfield grass to the shortstop, Braxton Graven—BU's leading hitter--stepped to the plate and delivered a 2-out RBI single. Weinstein—the team leader in RBIs—then had an opportunity with the bases loaded, but struck out swinging to end the game.
The Knights fall to 5-7 on the season, while Campbellsville evened their season mark at 5-5. Bellarmine returns to action at Rockhurst on Saturday.