BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - No. 15 Trinity University Baseball had the tying run at first base in the midst of a rally in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday night but was not able to bring it home, and ultimately fell to University of Lynchburg (VA), 4-3, to open the 2022 campaign at the Birmingham-Southern College Classic.

The Tigers (0-1) were up against a strong effort on the mound from the Hornets' reigning Old Dominion Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year which kept Trinity off the base path until the eighth frame. Junior rightfielder Brian Schaub (Hatfield, Pa. / La Salle) broke the seal with his eighth-inning walk, then plated the game's final run with a sacrifice fly in the ninth.

Junior centerfielder Ezra Gore (Dallas, Texas / McKinney North) scored on Schaub's fly ball and was responsible for ending the shutout with a grounder to score sophomore shortstop Jack Baker (Sugar Land, Texas / Ridge Point) which he reached base on an error by the Lynchburg shortstop.

Between the Gore and Schaub RBI, junior Nathan Braulick (San Antonio, Texas / Antonian) came off the bench to lace one down the third base line and score junior firstbaseman MJ Metz (San Diego, Calif. / Canyon Crest) and keep the rally alive.

Senior righthander Corey Cater (Sacramento, Calif. / Valley Christian) received the nod for the 2022 Opening Day start and posted double-digit strikeouts in a start for the third time in his career (10). He was handed the first decision of the season after five innings on the bump with two runs via three hits, five walks.

Sophomore righty Jonathan Newman (Pearland, Texas / Pearland) took over for the senior to start the sixth for his first collegiate appearance on the hill. In four innings of work, the sophomore ceded a pair of runs on four base hits and a walk, striking out five Hornets in the process.

No. 15 Trinity Baseball remains in Birmingham this weekend to battle host No. 7 Birmingham-Southern College Saturday night at 6 p.m., No. 9 Washington University (MO) Sunday at 11 a.m.

The 2022 home-opener for the Tigers is the first of a three-game set against Babson College (MA) on Friday, February 25 at 7 p.m. The following weekend features a four-game slate against No. 6 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, which will round out a 10-game stretch of opponents who received votes in the D3Baseball/NCBWA Preseason Poll to start the season.