WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Lyndon opened its 2015 season Wednesday with a tough 4-3 loss to Cleary University at Chain O' Lakes Park. The Hornets trailed 3-0 after five innings of play, but battled back to tie the game in the seventh. However,the Cougars managed to scratch out the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth and hand Lyndon its first loss of the season.

Cleary plated two runs in the bottom of the third when a Lyndon error and a single by Bradley Jones set the table for a run-scoring single by Joe Malewitz and a RBI double off the bat of Dugan Roosa. One inning later, singles by Isaac Miller and Taylor Hunter set the stage for a run-scoring groundout by Austin Forsyth which extended the Cougar advantage to 3-0.

In the top of the sixth, Kevin Tufo singled and stole second before scoring on Reece Tanguay's RBI single. A few pitches later Dylan Newton reached on a fielder's choice, and came home on a run-scoring single to left by Michael Cartularo. One inning later, Lyndon would tie the game at 3-3 as Nate Stewart single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mike LoVerde and scored on a Cleary throwing eror while trying to take third on the play.

The score remained tied until the bottom of the eighth when Roosa laced his second double of the game and came plateward on a fielder's choice by Devon Jones. Jack Ropp go the win in relief of Tyler Moore and James Edwards came on in the ninth to get the save.Brandon Flood, who releievd Michael Raimondi in the eighth, took the loss.

Roosa was 3-for-4 on the day with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI while Miller was 3-for-4 with a run scored. Cartularo was the leading hitter for the Hornets, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Lyndon returns to the diamond Thursday when it faces Alma College in a noontime doubleheader. The contest will be held on Field No. 3 at Lake Mytle Park in Auburndale, Fla.