SAINT LEO, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle baseball team found trouble at Southard Stadium on Friday night, dropping the 2020 Sunshine State Conference opener to Saint Leo, 20-5. The Eagles (8-3, 0-1) struggled on the mound, allowing 22 hits and issuing 11 walks to the Lions (2-8, 1-0 SSC) in dropping the series opener.

The Lions jumped on Eagle starter Garrett Goodall right away, getting a single and double to start the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. The Lions loaded the bases in the inning, but Goodall was able to hold the damage to just one additional run as SLU led 2-0 after the opening frame.

The home team doubled its lead in the second, chasing Goodall, but the Eagles got a little momentum back when John Devine scored the first Eagle run of the night after doubling in the third and scoring on a error.

The Lions really took ahold of the contest in their half of the third, scoring four more times for an 8-1 lead.

Mike Lawson tripled home two Eagle runs in the fifth to trim the deficit to 8-3, but Saint Leo immediately answered with two of its own runs in the next half inning.

Seven total runs touched home in the bottom of the sixth, including a grand slam by the Lions. 

ERAU used a slew of pinch hitters and defensive replacements in the last third of the game as Saint Leo would go on to the 20-5 victory.

Andrew Martinez was the lone Eagle with multiple hits, while Devine scored a pair of runs. Six Eagles saw action on the mound, with Dylan Buzbee making his collegiate debut, tossing a scoreless seventh with a pair of Ks.

Embry-Riddle will have the chance to win the series tomorrow when they meet the Lions for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.