REDDING, CALIF. – The Embry-Riddle baseball team dropped its opening game in a pivotal Cal Pac series against Simpson on Saturday. The teams combined for six runs in the first inning, and the Eagles tied the game in the fifth inning, but were unable to ever grab a lead from the Red Hawks.

Owen Cain continued his power surge, hitting a two-run home run in the top of the first to give ERAU the lead. Simpson countered with a home run of its own in the bottom of the first, but this one a grand slam to take the lead back.

Embry-Riddle chipped away at the lead, scoring single runs in the third and fifth frames. Luke Jepsen was responsible for the RBI in each of the innings, singling home Cain in the third and grounding out to score Cain again in the fifth.

Cain finished with two hits, and both of ERAU's extra base hits. On top of his home run in the first, Cain doubled to lead off the fifth, eventually scoring a game-tying run.

Dayne Pengelly and Grant Ikeda each tossed a pair of clean innings in relief, giving the Eagles an opportunity to close the gap at the end. Pengelly earned all three of his outs via strikeout, and Ikeda needed just nine pitches to wrap up the eighth.

The Eagles get back on the field with a chance to take the series in a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch between ERAU and Simpson is scheduled for Noon.