LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Interstat) — Eastern Kentucky scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back, defeating Bellarmine 11-3 on Friday afternoon at Knights Field. The Colonels (16-37) amassed 14 hits, led by Khaleel Pratt, who homered with two RBIs in the first and later tripled. David Alvarez doubled and hit a two-run homer, finishing with three RBIs.

Bellarmine (19-33) managed seven hits. AJ Swader homered in the fourth, and Eli Watson singled in two runs in the eighth.

Eastern Kentucky added three runs in the second on an Alvarez double, a Pratt triple and a Jack Cauthron sacrifice fly. Ricco Longo had a sacrifice fly in the sixth, and Alvarez homered in the eighth to push the lead to 11-1.

The Knights scored twice in the eighth on Watson’s single. The Colonels took a series-opening win after losing three of four to Bellarmine earlier this season. The teams meet again Saturday.