FORT MYERS, Fla. – While the warm weather was welcomed by the Edgewood College baseball team, the result was the season opener was not. Bluffton University opened an early 7-0 lead and held on for a 11-6 victory in the Eagles' season opener. The Beavers took advantage some shaky Eagle defense to improve to 8-2 on the season.

Bluffton University opened up a 7-0 lead with back-to-back three run innings in the third and fourth. In the bottom of the fourth, senior Nick Cheaney drove in the Eagles first run of the season scoring Garrett Bogucki who had reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second on Callen Gavic's single.

The Eagles added two more in the fifth on an RBI triple by Ryan Fields scoring Casey Willis, and a Beaver throwing error allowing Fields to score. Edgewood College continued to chip away in the sixth inning, taking advantage of three Bluffton wild pitches to plate pinch runner Josh Ottum. However, the Ealge still trailed 8-4 and could get no closer. Alex Fowler singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch in the seventh, and Bryan Sternig knocked in Willis with a single in the eight to close out the scoring.

Cheaney and Willis led the Eagles offense with two hits apiece, and each player adding a double. Gavic also went 2-for-4 on the day. Edgewood College swiped five bases in the game, including two by Sternig and one each for Fields, Patrick Wardlaw and Nik Visone.

Jeff Wolf was the opening day starter for the Eagles, and suffered the loss while striking out four batters. Connor Schatzberg and Will Mossa made their Eagle debuts on the mound, while Jake Sawinski, Ryan Howell and Alex Meister also saw action in relief.

The Eagles had their second game on Saturday, against North Park University, rained out. Edgewood College will continue play in the Gene Cusic Classic on Sunday against UW-Stout.