BLUEFIELD, Va. – The St. Andrews Knights struck for eight runs in the eighth inning to erase a 5-3 Bluefield College lead and went on to defeat the Rams 11-7, Friday evening in the opening game of a three-game Appalachian Athletic Conference series at Bowen Field.

Bluefield took the lead in the bottom of the first when Matt Ferreira's bases loaded walk allowed Ryan Lawson to trot home. The Rams extended their lead to 3-0 in the third on Dallas Bacon's two-run home run to left.

St. Andrews scored single runs off BC starter Thomas Huddleston in the fourth and fifth before the Rams tacked on two more runs in the fifth. Back-to-back doubles by Erik Williams and Dylan Lowenstein scored one and Lowenstein scored on an error to make it 5-2.

SAU scored a single run in the sixth before their eighth inning explosion. The Knights ripped off eight hits against a trio of BC pitchers, chasing Huddleston and later Zac Tapia. Dylan Ruth was the third pitcher of the frame for the Rams.

Bluefield added two runs in the bottom of the eighth when Eddie Torres picked up a two-run single, but could not cut any further into the lead.

Tapia took the loss in relief. Lawson and Torres each had a pair of hits to lead Bluefield at the plate.

With the loss the Rams now stand at 15-16 overall and 3-8 in AAC play. The two teams conclude the three-game set Saturday afternoon at Bowen Field with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00.