JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University baseball team lost twice Saturday to No. 17 Bellarmine University, 8-4 in game one and 4-2 in 10 innings in game two. Union also dropped the series opener Friday, 2-0 in 10 innings. Union dropped to 3-5 overall, while Bellarmine improved to 3-3.
Over the past two years, Union and Bellarmine have played five times. Four of the five games have ended in 10 innings. Union won both games last season in 10 innings, with Bellarmine taking two games in this year's series in 10 innings.
In the first game, Bellarmine jumped up 4-0. Union snapped a 21 inning scoreless streak with single runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings. Bellermine outhit Union 11-7, while Union committing four errors in the loss.
Tyler Thomas led with three hits, while
Austin Zeitler added two hits. Zeitler was busy in centerfield also with eight putouts.
Walker Adkisson (2-1) took his first loss of the season, allowing seven runs, five earned on nine hits with three strikeouts and a walk. He recorded 14 fly outs to just one ground out.
Andrey Arnett tossed two-thirds of an inning with a strikeout, two walks, no runs and no hits.
Spencer Woods tossed two-thirds inning, allowing two hits, one unearned run.
Sam McMillin tossed a perfect ninth inning, strikeout two batters.
In the second game, Bellarmine scored in the first and fourth inning to lead 2-0. Union tied the game in the fifth on a 2-RBI single to left field, driving in Garrett Gymon an
Tyler Thomas. The game, slated for seven innings, stayed 2-2 until the top of the 10th inning. Union had a golden opportunity in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs,
Cooper Bullough singled, followed by a walk to
Drew Hill and a hit by pitch for Pugh. However, Union stranded the bases loaded. In the eighth inning, Zeitler led off with a double, but he too was stranded. Bellarmine scored twice in the top of the 10th to take the 4-2 lead. Union had just four hits in the game but received six walks. Union left nine runners on base and struck out 11 times.
Brandon Maxwell started and went six innings, allowing five hits, two runs, with three strikeouts, and a walk.
Parker Shreve (0-1) took the loss, tossing 3.2 innings of relief, but giving up two hits and two runs in the top of the 10th. He added four strikeouts.
Brad Weber tossed the final one-third inning, with one hit and a walk.
Up next for Union will be its first road game of the year, a single game at Arkansas Tech, Tuesday, February 18 at 2 p.m. Union opens GSC play next weekend at home, Feb. 22-23 versus Alabama Huntsville.
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