DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Despite a solid outing from starter Stetson Nelson on the mound, the 11th-ranked Embry-Riddle Eagles couldn't find the offense to overcome an early deficit in Friday's 4-1 season-opening loss to Reinhardt (Ga.). ERAU (0-1) had just six hits and managed only one run in losing its second straight season opener for the first time in program history. Reinhardt (3-0) remained perfect on the season, using three unearned runs in the second inning and the sterling performances of Blake Marbut and Max Smith on the mound to send the home team to the first season-opening loss at home since 2006.

Nelson, starting his second straight campaing opener, tossed eight innings for the Blue and Gold, allowing seven hits and no earned runs while walking none and fanning seven in the loss. His counterpart, left-hander Marbut, was just as good, scattering three hits and one run over five frames before Smith relieved him in the sixth and earned the rare, four-inning save, holding ERAU scoreless over the final four innings, working around three base hits and a walk.

After a scoreless first inning, Reinhardt got the bats going, getting a single from Chap Lindstrom and a double by Ryan Hankins to put runners at second and third with no outs. Nelson was up to the task though, retiring the next two batters and getting a two-strike count on Tyus O'Neal. O'Neal sent Nelson's 1-2 pitch towards third base, but a fielding error by Jake Cavender allowed two runs to score and O'Neal to advance to second on the throw in from the outfield. Christian Trejos brought in O'Neal on the next pitch with a shallow single to center for a 3-0 Reinhardt lead.

Embry-Riddle's only run came in the last of the third when Kyle Buchanan came around to score on Cavender's triple down the right field line after the Eagle right fielder drew a one-out walk.

Nelson retired six straight and nine on the next 10 batters after the second, keeping ERAU in the game. But he was answered by Marbut through five innings and Smith after that.

Embry-Riddle threatened in the sixth when Enderson Jose Velasquez and Liam Goodall collected back-to-back two-out singles off of Smith, but a fielder's choice ended the frame as ERAU continued to trail, 3-1.

Another unearned run came across to score in the top of the eight for Reinhardt, giving the visitors some insurance and a 4-1 lead. However, the insurance proved to be unneeded as Smith retired six of the final seven Eagle batters in the eighth and ninth to preserve the win.

Velasquez finished 2-for-4 for ERAU while Clayton Wagner pitched the ninth for the Eagles, working around a walk to toss a scoreless frame.

The two teams will meet back up at 1 p.m. on Saturday for the second of the three-game series at Sliwa Stadium.