LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Despite a late surge, the University of West Alabama baseball team suffered a 5-4 defeat at the hands of Lynn University in UWA's home opener on Friday afternoon at Tartt Field. The loss drops the Tigers to 3-5 on the season, while the Fighting Knights improve to 4-3.

Jay Jennings was the bright spot offensively for the Tigers as finished the day going 2-for-3 at the plate including his first homer of the season. The Munford, Tenn. native stroked one down the left field line in the seventh inning to pull West Alabama within three at 5-2. He added another RBI in the ninth to finish the afternoon with two.

Trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the ninth, West Alabama used a patient approach to mount the comeback that came up just short. Lynn closer Jason Whelan (3) surrendered a base hit to Kevin Deese and then walked the next three batters to force in UWA's third run of the contest.

After a strike out, Whelan got Ladarrius Cole to bounce out to first for the second out, but it also scored Coleman McClendon who was in the game as a pinch runner for Colin McKeen who had drawn one of the three walks.

Facing a bases loaded situation again after plunking Chris Duncan – the third time he was hit by a pitch on the afternoon – Whelan induced a ground ball from Brian Simone to extinguish the threat.

The game got off to a rough start for the Red and White as the first four Fighting Knights reached in what proved to be a three-run first inning.

Colter Millican (1-2) settled down after the bumpy first frame to toss seven innings, allowing eight hits and five runs. Only three of the tallies were earned as the Tiger defense committed a pair of errors in the contest.

Andrew Virgilli (3-0) tossed seven strong innings as well as he stifled the UWA bats through his first five. After giving up a lead-off double to Cole, Virgilli did not allow another hit until Jennings singled in the fifth.

The Tigers couldn't get to the Lynn starter for a run until the sixth when Micah Reaves hit into a fielder's choice to drive in Duncan. The RBI is the team-leading ninth for Reaves.

With the squad trailing by three thanks to the Jennings blast, the Tigers looked to be on the verge of something big in the eighth as Duncan drew a walk and Simone was hit by a pitch, but the promise of runs quickly vanished as the Lynn defense turned a 5-4-3 triple play to end the frame.

Colton Henderson pitched a solid two innings in relief as he gave up just one hit while striking out two.

The teams will return to action on Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Both contests can be heard on ESPN 104.9 FM and www.espn1049.com.