FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama baseball team's bats were silent for eight innings Sunday and, despite three hits and two runs in the ninith, the Lions dropped a 4-2 decision to Bellarmine at Mike Lane Field.

UNA outhit the Knights eight to five but allowed two runs on wild pitches and one on a dropped fly ball.

With the loss UNA is now 2-1 overall.

UNA managed just five hits over the first eight innings but also stranded six other base runners that walked or were hit by pitch. The Lions left runners on base in six innings, including leaving the bases loaded in the second.

Bellarmine scored the first run of the game in the fourth when David Weinstein doubled and later scored on a wild pitch. Zachary Blanchard also walked in the inning and scored on a John Lyons RBI single off UNA starter Will Rankin.

UNA reliever Casey Jones also gave up two runs in the game. In the fifth he hit Kal Scheler and he later scored on a wild pitch. In the ninth Lyons singled and scored on a dropped fly ball in right field to make it 4-0.

Blake Stroth walked with one out in the ninth to start UNA's rally. Josh Cyr then singled and was pulled for pinch runner Drew Humphrey. . An Andrew Almon single drove in one run and a Jared Mothershed single loaded the bases. UNA's second run scored on a Jacob Lamar ground-out but Chase Porch grounded out to third to end the game.

Rankin (0-1) took the loss for UNA in four innings of work. Jones pitched the final five innings, allowing two runs on two hits.

UNA hosts Cumberland Wednesday.