NASHVILLE – A seventh-inning double by
Damion Kenealy Jr. was enough to give Lipscomb University the 6-4 victory over Bellarmine University to secure the series on Friday night from Ken Dugan Field at Stephen Lee Marsh Stadium.
Prior to first pitch,
Aaron Stelogeannis was honored as the 2026 Ken Dugan Award recipient.
Final Score: Lipscomb 6, Bellarmine 4
Location: Nashville, Tennessee (Ken Dugan Field at Stephen Lee Marsh Stadium)
Records: Lipscomb (23-23, 16-10), Bellarmine (19-29, 11-15)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Lipscomb University took an early lead against the Knights, scoring two runs in the first inning.
Hutson Miles singled through the right side, and
Aaron Stelogeannis followed with an RBI single up the middle, allowing Miles to score.
Jordan Thomas reached on a fielder's choice, bringing
Cam Pruitt home for the second run. Lipscomb led 2-0 after one inning.
In the second inning, the Bisons added another run.
Alejandro Ludeiro singled down the left field line and scored on a double by Pruitt, extending the lead to 3-0 through two innings.
Lipscomb continued its momentum in the third inning. Stelogeannis singled to right, and Thomas doubled to left-center, driving in Stelogeannis. This put the Bisons ahead 4-0 after three innings.
Jace Trautner used back-to-back strikeouts in the fourth and three pop flies in the fifth to preserve the shutout. However, that changed in the sixth, as Luca Hoerger launched a three-run home run to cut the deficit to 4-3.
In a tense seventh inning, after a lead-off double by Landon Akers, AJ Swader brought him home on a RBI knock to even the game at 4-4 off of new pitcher
Jackson Lee. However, the freshman recovered on the mound with a sac bunt, a pop-up and a strikeout to leave the go-ahead run at second for Bellarmine.
In the bottom of the seventh, Lipscomb secured the game's decisive lead with key contributions from
Damion Kenealy Jr. and
Jordan Thomas. After Thomas doubled to right center,
Blake Carter's pinch-hit walk set the stage for Kenealy Jr., who delivered a clutch double down the left field line, driving in two runs. This sequence pushed Lipscomb ahead 6-4, a lead it maintained through solid defense and effective pitching.
After a lead-off single to right by Logan Murphy, Lee finished the game, retiring the last six batters to secure the series win.
KEY STATISTICS
Jackson Lee (4-3) faced three batters over the minimum, but retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced to secure the win in relief. Tossing three innings, he struck out two batters.
Jace Trautner took another tough no-decision, but he did match a career-high with six strikeouts in six innings of work.
Hutson Miles recorded his fifth three-hit game of the year with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate.
Jordan Thomas posted his eighth multi-RBI game with two RBI, while
Damion Kenealy Jr.'s seventh-inning go-ahead two-run double secured his seventh multi-RBI affair of the year.
UP NEXT
The Bisons will wrap up the series with the Knights on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. Prior to the first pitch, Lipscomb will honor its seniors.
