THOMASVILLE, Ga. - Despite a strong start from Stetson Nelson, the 18th-ranked Embry-Riddle Eagles dropped their series opener against Thomas, 3-1 on Friday afternoon. The Eagles (22-13, 9-6) scratched across just one unearned run in the defeat, even though they outhit the Night Hawks (15-15-1, 7-8), 8-7.

The two teams meet up again tomorrow, Saturday, March 28 at 12 p.m. for a doubleheader.

The game featured strong starting pitching from both squads as Nelson and Tate Lambert squared off, each trading zeros through five innings.

That changed in the bottom of the sixth when Josh Bruijn took Nelson deep to left for a two-run homer that broke the scoreless deadlock as the hosts jumped in front, 2-0.

It appeared the Eagles would strike back quickly when both Enderson Velasquez and Joshua Garcia singled to start the seventh, but Lambert got a fly out and two strikeouts to end the frame and keep his team in front.

Justin Hicks relived Lambert in the eighth and the Eagles were able to plate a run on a Liam Goodall RBI single, scoring Kyle Zirbes from third after he singled, moved to second on a passed ball and then to third on a ground out. The run cut the deficit to 2-1, and ERAU threatened for more when Velasquez singled and both he and Goodall moved up on a wild pitch, but Hicks got out of the jam with a fly ball off the bat of Garcia to end the inning.

Thomas tacked on an insurance run in the last of the eighth thanks to an Eagle throwing error, but Zac Grotz came in and struck out the side to keep the Blue and Gold down just 3-1.

ERAU didn't muster much in the ninth, getting a baserunner thanks to a hit by pitch, but a fly out to right ended the game as TU held on for the 3-1 victory.

Nelson (3-3) tossed seven innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts while Lambert (4-4) got the win, posting a seven-inning shutout with nine Ks.