DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Embry-Riddle suffered its first Sun Conference loss of 2013 on Saturday afternoon, but was able to battle back and claim the series against Warner with a victory in the day's finale, staying abreast of Ave Maria at the top of The Sun Conference standings. The Eagles (11-3, 8-1) and Royals (7-4, 2-10) had to deal with blustery conditions at Sliwa Stadium, battling 20-25 mph wind gusts and 55 degree weather throughout the day.

Game 1
Chad Modomo fell victim to three Warner runs and three Embry-Riddle errors in the second inning as the Royals went up 3-0 on the senior right-hander early on in the day's opener. Modomo gave up three hits in the frame, but should have been out of the inning on multiple occassions, but defensive miscues proved costly for the Blue and Gold as the Eagles found themselves trailing the Royals for the first time during the weekend.

Liam Goodall collected an RBI groundout in the bottom of the second, but that's all the Eagles could muster as their bases-loaded, no out situation failed to generate any further offense.

Modomo and Warner reliever Joey Hall pitched scoreless third innings, but back-to-back Royal hits in the fourth provided two more runs for the visitors who took a 5-1 lead.

Embry-Riddle loaded the bags again in the home-half of the fourth, but again could only push across one run when Jordan Johnson was hit by a pitch, scoring Colt Hankamer from third, cutting the deficit to 5-2 midway through the game.

Jon Rapose relieved Modomo in the fifth with runners on the corners and Rapose ended the threat with a strikeout and harmless fly ball that brough the Eagles back into the dugout, trailing by three runs.

Warner scored its sixth run of the afternoon in the sixth off a sacrifice fly, but the Eagles were able to answer in the bottom of the inning when Kevin Lindheim collected an RBI hit by pitch with the bases loaded. However, Ryan Ruble, who had entered the game to begin the frame, got Jeff Lemon to ground into an inning-ending double play to keep the score at 6-3 in favor of the Royals.

Eric Green tossed the seventh for the Blue and Gold, but like Modomo, was on the wrong side of an Eagle error which allowed the seventh Royal run to cross the plate unearned.

Ruble retired the final nine batters he faced in order and the Royals tacked on a pair of runs in the ninth after an error allowed the inning to continue, accounting for the 9-3 final.

Modomo (2-1) lost his first game of 2013, tossing 4.1 innings, surrendering five runs, two earned, on eight hits while striking out five. Green had a solid 2.1 inning outing with a pair of Ks.

Hall (2-1) earned the win, while Ruble earned the 5.0-inning save. Three Warner pitchers combined to strand 12 Eagle runners on the bases.

Game 2
The Eagles left nine on the bags in the series' finale, but it didn't matter as Stetson Nelson bounced back from a Tuesday loss to Davenport with an outstanding complete game, three-hitter against the Royals, striking out a season-high 10 batters en route to his third victory of the season.

Goodall created some offense in the third when he singled off of Warner starter Dakota Mitchell, moving to second on a sac bunt before stealing third and scoring when the throw from the catcher went into left field, giving Embry-Riddle a 1-0 advantage.

Nelson's only trouble came in the fourth when Logan Hunter lined out to left field, plating Justin Burgess who was tagging from third, on the throw home.

Nelson's team quickly re-took the lead in the bottom of the inning when Lemon grounded out to second, scoring Matt Jacobs from third in what would prove to be the winning score.

Nelson retired the final 15 batters who came to the plate after the fourth inning, giving up just one hit to Burgess, who was cut down at second trying to steal after his single to center.

Embry-Riddle got some insurance runs in the eighth on a Lindheim double and Lemon single, but Nelson didn't need them as he went 1-2-3 in the ninth to secure the 4-1 win.

Nelson (3-1) pitched 9.0 innings of three-hit baseball, allowing one run, one walk and striking out 10. Lemon finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs while Goodall went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

The Eagles host No. 17 Bellevue (Neb.) tomorrow night, Sunday, Mar. 3 at 6 p.m. in a single, nine-inning contest.