LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In perhaps its most well-rounded performance of the season, the Bellarmine University baseball team captured a 10-4 victory over Kennesaw State on Sunday in Atlantic Sun Conference action at Knights Field.
In addition to stellar pitching that resulted in its second-fewest runs allowed of the season, powerful offense that produced 15 hits and sound glovework that yielded only one harmless error, Bellarmine (7-36, 6-15 ASUN) exhibited admirable resilience after thoroughly taking one on the chin Saturday against Kennesaw State (24-18, 14-7).
The silver lining of Nolan Pender not needing to be beckoned from the bullpen in the first two games — both KSU wins — was his availability to start Sunday’s series finale. The senior right-hander set the tone in the victory by conceding a single run in 5.0 innings pitched, the last 4.0 of which were scoreless before he departed. Pender, who earned the win, struck out four while logging the Knights’ longest outing of the season.
Senior right-hander Ross Goldschlag registered his first save in a Bellarmine uniform after tossing the last 3.0 innings, including a scoreless eighth and ninth. Senior left-hander Steven Thom bridged Pender and Goldschlag with a solid inning of relief. The trio limited the Owls to seven hits.
Six of Bellarmine’s 15 hits went for extra bases. That included sophomore third baseman Brady Morse’s first home run of the season, a two-run shot in the first that gave the Knights the lead for good.
Bellarmine went up 4-1 in the second on junior catcher Matt Flaherty’s RBI single and senior center fielder Will Aubel’s sacrifice fly. The Knights bumped their advantage to 5-1 in the third on junior designated hitter Jacob Rowold’s RBI single.
Bellarmine plated two runs in the sixth to go up 7-2 on junior first baseman Casey Sorg’s RBI triple and Morse’s RBI single. After KSU responded with two runs, the Knights responded with three in the seventh on junior right fielder Jake Agarwal’s RBI double and RBI singles from Flaherty and Sorg.
Six players had multi-hit games for Bellarmine, led by Agarwal’s 3-for-3 outing that included a pair of doubles. Sophomore shortstop Luke Scales also clubbed a pair of two-baggers. Aubel, Sorg, Morse and Flaherty tallied two hits a piece. Morse had three RBI and Aubel stole a pair of bases.
Bellarmine will host Morehead State at 3 pm (ET) Tuesday.
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