SAINT LEO, Fla. – A strong third inning gave the Embry-Riddle baseball team the lead and momentum, but ultimately the Eagles (33-20) fell to West Florida (35-22) in Saturday's NCAA II South Region tournament game. The two clubs will face off to determine the regional on Sunday. 
 
ERAU mustered just six hits on the evening, and only one in the game's final four frames. A big third inning gave the Eagles a 3-1 lead in what seemed like a turn-of-the-tide inning. In that inning, Timo Aracena drew a leadoff walk, followed by a Jeremy Kennedy-Davis sacrifice bunt to move him into scoring position. From there, Alex Britton drew the Eagles' second free pass of the inning with one out before Camden Traficante stepped in the box. Traficante ripped a single-turned-double, scoring both runners to take the lead. For good measure, Tyler Castelli singled right away again, scoring the speedy Traficante from second to make it 3-1. Traficante ended the night with a pair of base knocks, two RBI and a run scored in the losing effort.
 
West Florida got help offensively all night from Darrien McDowell, who finished the contest with a 4-for-5, four RBI, two run night, including two homers and an RBI double. The Argonauts came within a score in the sixth, then McDowell went off in the seventh and eighth to give and extend UWF's lead. 
 
The Eagles uncharacteristically struggled on the pitchers mound Saturday evening. Tyler Donay, who worked hard in his four innings, struck out four and gave up just one run.  Max Meyer and Joe Balsam were touched up for a combined five runs as McDowell and the Argos were able to take momentum into the late innings. Tristan Harley came on in the eight and worked for two outs, including a strikeout as well.
 
ERAU and UWF will meet on the diamond at 2 p.m. on Sunday to determine who makes it to play No. 1 Tampa in the NCAA Super Regionals next weekend.