MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (Interstat) — Middle Tennessee launched a pair of third-inning home runs to erase an early deficit and defeat Bellarmine 8-2 on Friday evening at Reese Smith Jr. Field.

The Blue Raiders, who had an 11-8 hit advantage, broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the third. Owen Nowak hit a two-run homer and DJ O’Neill followed with a solo shot. Middle Tennessee added runs in the fifth and sixth innings to pull away.

Bellarmine scored its first run on an error in the third and got an RBI double from Sawyer Pace in the fourth. The Knights dropped to 0-1, while Middle Tennessee opened its season 1-0. The teams continue their series with a doubleheader Saturday.