Tampa, Fla. – Lynn University's baseball team battled back from a five-run deficit but five errors led to five unearned runs in a 10-7 loss to sixth-ranked University of Tampa on Friday night.  Jason Matusik tied for the Sunshine State Conference RBI lead with two more while Mike Gonzalez also added two runs batted in.  The Fighting Knights move to 30-18 overall and 13-9 in the SSC.

Sal Giardina helped the Blue & White grab the early 1-0 lead in the second when he led off the inning with a double into the left center field gap.  After a Cory Elasik moved him up the third, Tampa starter Jon Keller aided LU with a pitch into the backstop.

Lynn's defensive woes started though in the home half of the frame and continued through the sixth as the team committed five errors, leading to five unearned runs and giving Tampa (37-10, 17-5 SSC) a 6-1 advantage.

The Fighting Knights battled back on the heels of a key Spartan error.  Consecutive RBI ground outs by Enrique Perez and Alex Freedman closed the gap but an error on the play gave LU an extra out and Lashley followed with an RBI fielder's choice.   Matusik then cleared the bases with a double to left center field and all of a sudden LU was trailing by just one.

Lynn didn't stop there as Elasik drew a two-out walk to load the bases and Gonzalez turned on the first pitch he saw from Mike Adams for a two-run single, putting the Blue & White ahead 7-6.

The Spartans took advantage of a lead-off walk in the bottom of the seventh to score the tying and eventual winning run and tacked on two insurance runs in the eighth to secure the victory.

Perez, Matusik, Elasik and Gonzalez all logged multiple hits.  Joe Perrotta (5-5) took the loss, surrendering eight runs, three earned, on eight hits with one strikeout over six innings.

The Blue & White will try to take the series from the Spartans when they square-off for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.  Fans can watch the action live at LynnFightingKnights.com and receive in-game updates by following @LUKnights on Twitter and Instagram.