SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo baseball team lost 8-5 in its series opener at home against Flagler in non-conference action on Friday night.

The Saints claimed an early 1-0 lead in the first following an RBI-walk, however, the Lions grasped a 2-1 edge after the third as senior Braden Killens doubled to right center to drive in graduate student Adam Berry in the second inning. Junior Amai Rivera-Martinez notched an RBI-single to right field to score junior Ryan Crivello. Flagler laced three runs in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead before an RBI-single from sophomore Luis Rivero trimmed the Lions deficit to 4-3. The Saints added a run in the fifth followed by a three-run homer in the seventh to gain an 8-3 margin. In the eighth, Berry blasted a two-run homer to right field as Saint Leo cut Flagler's lead to 8-5.

Berry and Killen both went 2-for-4 while Berry drove in a pair of runs and scored twice. Rivera-Martinez notched a hit and an RBI while Rivero went 1-for-3 with a walk and RBI. On the mound, graduate student Kyle Scrape started and pitched 4.0 innings and surrendered five hits with four runs (one earned), three walks, and one strikeout.

The Lions return to action tomorrow, Saturday, February 8 as they conclude their three-game series against Flagler with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.