Box Score Boca Raton, FL – The Adelphi University baseball team dropped its first spring training game to regional opponent Dominican College, 5-4 on Friday afternoon. The Panthers held a 4-3 lead heading into the top of the ninth, but were unable to hold on for the win. They fall to 1-1 on the season as the Chargers improve to 2-4 overall.

Leading the offense for the Panthers was newcomer Cliff Brantley, who scattered three hits in five at bats, collecting two stolen bases in the process. Donato Signore and Richard Mejia each registered two hits in the loss. Dominican's Jayson Gray accounted for three hits in the victory. Senior captain Stephen Bove faced 18 batters over 4.0 innings, scattering seven hits, but earned only one run. Dominican's starter, Peter Llenrena completed 7.0 innings of work, giving up 10 hits and earning three runs in the win.

The Chargers were first to get on the scoreboard as a single by Gabriel Valverde scored Alex Lorenzo. Adelphi was quick to answer back as they evened the score at 1-1, on a Nick Zito single to right that drove in a hustling Brantley. A pair of goose eggs would get both teams through the fourth inning, to the fifth that brought runs for the Panthers and Chargers.

Gray would score on a balk by Chris Lemorrocco, after reaching first on a dropped third strike. The Brown and Gold got hot in the bottom of the fifth as Brantley singled to right field and Kevin Hutzel followed that with a double to centerfield. A Mejia double would score Hutzel to bring the score to 2-2.

Adelphi would strike again in the bottom of the sixth as Signore doubled to deep left field. Rob Burns would lay down a bunt that he beat out advancing Signore to third, eventually taking home on a miscue by the Chargers, putting them up 3-2. Heading into the top of the ninth the Panther s held a 4-3 lead, Matt Abramowitz would face six batters that accounted for two hits and two runs to give them the upper hand going into the bottom of the ninth.

Unable to get any rally going, the Panthers dropped their first game of the season. They return to action tomorrow against the Wilmington University Wildcats at 3:30 p.m. Follow @AUPanthers and @AdelphiBaseball for in-game updates and stats.