DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle baseball team lost a heartbreaker on Friday night at Sliwa Stadium as the Rollins Tars scored four runs to overcome a two-run deficit, emerging with a series-opening 8-6 victory over the Eagles. The Tars (17-27, 5-20 SSC) snapped a 19-game losing streak and collected their first road win of the season, while the Eagles (18-27, 7-18 SSC) lost at home for the first time ever to Rollins. 

Entering the ninth, the Eagles led 6-4 with reliever Aidan Brady cruising into the frame, allowing just one hit in his 2.2 innings of work. Brady got a strikeout to start the inning, but a five-pitch walk to pinch hitter Luke Reidy started the Tar rally. Pinch hitter Eddie Ayala nearly tied the game with a deep fly ball to right that hit off the fence for a double, putting runners at second and third with one out. Dominic Jeancola entered for Brady and after issuing a walk, appeared to strike out Nick Breen on multiple occasions, but instead, Breen worked a full count before lacing a base hit up the middle that tied the game. Breen, who had advanced to second on the throw in from his base hit, scored, along with Cam Meehan, on Bryce Peterson's double to left center, giving Rollins an 8-6 lead.

ERAU got a one-out walk from Jordan Hicks in the bottom of the ninth, but Rollins' Caleb Jakes got the next two Eagles to end the game and earn his second save of the year.

The home team led for most of the game, taking a 2-0 lead in the second on a couple of two-out RBI hits from Justin Franklin and Jake Malone, but the Tars were able to answer in the fourth when they scored three against Eagle starter Cody Crouse to go in front, 3-2.

Zach Howard tied the game on the very first pitch he saw in the bottom of the fourth, homering for the 20th time in his junior campaign, and after Franklin doubled a few batters later, Hicks gave the Eagles the lead back with a double down the right field line.

Rollins tied the game in the sixth on Peterson's infield hit that glanced off Crouse on the mound, causing the Eagle righty to leave the game. Brady came in and got out of the frame with the game tied at 4-4, and ERAU got a gift in the sixth when a throwing error allowed Cody Bogart to score for a 5-4 ERAU lead.

Kyle Marsh added some insurance for the Blue and Gold in the seventh with a base hit to center, scoring Habig from second after the Eagle right fielder doubled with one out, but the insurance would not be enough as RC rallied in the ninth for the win.

The two teams will meet again tomorrow, Saturday, May 5 at 12 p.m., and will evaluate whether to play a single game or a doubleheader with rain expected to roll in on Sunday.