LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Bellarmine scored three runs in the first inning and went on to a 9-4 win over North Alabama in ASUN Conference baseball action.

The Lions closed the gap to 3-2 in the second inning but wouldn't get any closer as the Knights pushed their advantage to 6-2 before UNA scored two more runs in the sixth. Bellarmine then added an insurance run in the eighth for the final 9-4 advantage.

With the loss, North Alabama is 1-14 overall and 0-4 in ASUN Conference play. Bellarmine improved to 5-10 overall and 1-3 in the ASUN.

UNA starter Hunter Davidson took the loss, allowing six runs, five earned, on eight hits. He walked three and struckout two. Austin Emener then pitched the final three innings, giving up three runs, just one earned, on three hits.

Devne Daniel stayed hot for the Lions with his second three-hit game in a row. Drew Hudson and Reid Homan also had two hits for UNA.

In the second inning, Homan led off the frame with a double for UNA and later scored on a passed ball. Ben Kiefer was hit-by-pitch and eventually scored on a Drew Hudson RBI-double.

In the sixth, Daniel singled, Kylan Barnett walked and Peyton Thomas walked to load the bases. A sacrifice fly by Homan gave the Lions their third run and a Kiefer ground-out drove in Barnett with the Lions final score of the day.

The Lions and Knights will play game two of the three-game series at noon on Saturday.