By Shelbi Mulcahy
Bellarmine baseball will start its first Division I season with a three-game series against the University of Louisville this weekend.
The series starts Friday at 3 p.m. at Jim Patterson Stadium and will continue on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. (weather permitting). Admission is free.
The University of Louisville, coached by Dan McDonnell, is ranked No. 2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and No. 5 in the nation. Before last season ended because of the pandemic, the Cardinals had a 13-4 record.
Last season, Bellarmine was ranked as the preseason No. 1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) and No. 17 in the nation for D-II baseball. Coach Larry Owens, who is going into his eighth season at Bellarmine, led the Knights to a 2019 GLVC tournament championship and had an overall record of 10-4 and 3-0 in the GLVC last year before the season was canceled.
Both Louisville and Bellarmine have many 2020 seniors returning this season for a fifth year. The NCAA granted all players who lost their season because of COVID a fifth year to make up for it. “We have a lot of depth to our team this year because of the return of seniors from last season that will allow us to be competitive,” McDonnell said.
Bellarmine left-handed pitcher Shane Barringer and right-handed pitcher Deylen Miley have returned to play their senior season, which was cut short last year.
“Both Barringer and Miley, who are on the draft watch list, will be are our starting pitchers this year and will play a big role in our pitching staff,” Owens said.
The Knights said they are excited to open up against the Cardinals. Sophomore infielder Dylan Byerly said: “This game will help us a lot. Being able to open up with a top five power team gives us the competition we need to compete with other top Division I schools.”
Freshman outfielder Jackson Case said: “We are ready take on the Cardinals. They have such a great baseball program. It is unreal to have the opportunity to play them this season.”
The Cardinals are also ready to take on the Knights. Redshirt senior left-handed pitcher Adam Elliott said: “I grew up watching both Louisville and Bellarmine, so I think it is pretty cool to be able to play against a team I grew up watching. I am excited to see how the game goes.”
Louisville’s defense and offense are both deep. “Our pitching staff this year is one of the best we have had, which will help us stay competitive,” Elliott said.
Redshirt junior Lucas Dunn said: “Our line-up has a lot of depth since many seniors have returned. Everyone can hit, and we have the potential to produce runs.”
Because this is the Knights’ first season of D-I play, there is a lot of excitement as well as uncertainty about how competitive the team will be.
“Louisville has quite a head start over us at the D-I level and there is a definite gap,” Owens said. “However, I think when people come out and watch, they will be surprised that the gap is a lot smaller than they probably initially thought.”
Case said: “We should be able to hang with them in competition. Our top pitchers are right there with Louisville’s top pitchers. Same for our hitters.”
Byerly said: “Louisville’s pitching staff is deeper but BU’s top pitchers match up well against the Cardinals.” “I think we can match up both defensively and offensively against Louisville.”
The cross-town rivalry should be good for the fans, McDonnell said.
“This game is awesome for the city. Now that Louisville has two inner-city Division I schools, it will be great to build a bigger fan base for both teams,” he said.
Owens said this first series against Louisville will be a memory-making one. “I know I can speak for our team when I say we would love and greatly appreciate any and all support fans of Bellarmine University could give,” Owens said.
Byerly said: “We are hardworking, good-looking men that are ready to take on the Division I battle. Come out and support the Knights.”