FROSTBURG, Md. – The No. 21-ranked Salisbury University baseball team dropped the first contest of a three-game set at Frostburg State University on Saturday afternoon, 5-3.

The Sea Gulls took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning on one big swing by junior catcher Tyler Bennett. After a pair of walks and a single by senior Brad Baylis, Bennett stepped to the plate with one out. The Federalsburg, Md., native drove the ball to left-center field off Frostburg starter Greg Ross, allowing Baylis and freshmen Bill Root and Ken O'Neill to come around to score on his double.

The three runs were protected by Salisbury starting pitcher Chris Greiner through the first four innings of play, but the Bobcats (8-6, 4-3 CAC) got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. The first four batters reached base, including a bases loaded walk to score the first run of the day for Frostburg State. Greiner allowed just one more run in the inning, despite facing the bases loaded with no outs, allowing the Sea Gulls to hold on to the 3-2 lead.

Salisbury could not push an insurance run across and the Bobcats took the lead with a three-run eighth inning. Frostburg's first two batters in the inning reached base, on an error and a single, ending Greiner's day. The Baltimore native allowed just five hits in seven-plus innings of work, striking out a season-high 13 along the way.

Junior Jeff Hoffman came on in relief but a suicide squeeze and a two-run double allowed the Bobcats to take the lead and the win.

Ross went the distance for Frostburg State, allowing seven hits while striking out a dozen Sea Gulls. Tyler Hawthorne, who had the two-run double in the eighth, led the Bobcats with a 2-for-4 day at the plate.

The teams will meet against on Sunday afternoon for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.