PREVIEW: Bellarmine at Lipscomb

NASHVILLE (Interstat) — Bellarmine visits Lipscomb on Thursday, May 7, 2026, for a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference series opener at Dugan Field.

The Knights (19-27) enter on a two-game winning streak after taking a series at North Alabama, capped by a 9-6 victory Sunday. The Bisons (21-23) are coming off a series win at Eastern Kentucky, including a 10-5 triumph Sunday.

Thursday’s pitching matchup features two of the league’s most effective arms. Lipscomb right-hander Collin Bosley-Smith (5-3, 3.86 ERA) is slated to start. Bosley-Smith has been dominant in recent outings, earning wins against North Alabama (5 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 8 K on April 19) and Eastern Kentucky (5 IP, 0 H, 3 ER, 5 K on Sunday). He also worked two scoreless relief appearances against Central Arkansas earlier this month.

Bellarmine will counter with left-hander Cade Rusch, who has been nearly unhittable in relief. In Sunday’s win at North Alabama, Rusch tossed three shutout innings, allowing no hits with four strikeouts. Over his last five appearances, Rusch has a 1.76 ERA with 12 strikeouts across 9 1/3 innings.

The teams met in early April in Louisville, with Bellarmine winning two of three. The Knights took the opener 9-4 on April 2, then swept a doubleheader April 3, winning 9-5 and 17-10.

Other key contributors for Bellarmine include right fielder Eli Watson, who drove in three runs in Sunday’s win, and reliever Chase Carver, who threw two scoreless innings. For Lipscomb, second baseman Brady Miller hit a home run and drove in four runs Sunday, while reliever Jackson Lee tossed four scoreless innings.

Both teams are jockeying for position in the ASUN standings. Lipscomb sits in the middle of the pack, while Bellarmine is trying to climb out of the bottom half.

The series continues with a doubleheader Friday and a single game Saturday. Bellarmine travels to Louisville on Tuesday, while Lipscomb heads to Central Arkansas next week.