Tampa, Fla. – A big three-run eighth inning set up by a two-run single from Matt Ackerman led Lynn University's 10th-ranked baseball team to a 5-3 victory over No. 8 Tampa in the series opener on Friday night.  Ackerman was 2-for-5 with a two RBI and Kyle Carter tossed seven shutout innings to help the Fighting Knights improve to 28-8 overall and 11-5 in Sunshine State Conference play.

The victory for the Blue & White was their first in a series opener at Tampa since 2005.

Two-out base hits were the theme for Lynn in collecting all of its runs throughout the night.  Ben Schwanburg put two runs up on the board in the fifth when the left-hand hitting first baseman smacked an opposite field single to bring home Alex DeBellis and Matt Tietz.

The Fighting Knights then loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth when Ackermand ripped a two-run base hit over second base.  Hit machine John Borup followed with his fourth base-knock of the game, a RBI single to right field, putting Lynn ahead 5-0.

Carter, the reigning SSC Pitcher of the Week, picked up where he left off against Saint Leo.  The starting southpaw extended his shutout streak to 12 innings, tossed a career-best six strikeouts and allowed only four hits.

He departed in the eighth with the lead but the Blue & White bullpen ran into trouble allowing three runs in the home half, cutting their advantage to 5-3.  A one-out double and single brought AJ Falletta to the game and the senior reliever froze the Spartans pinch hitter on strike three.  The chess match continued with the right-left matchup, bringing Kyle Schindler to the mound.  Schindler got ahead 1-2 in the count before a swinging strike three ended the game, earning his fourth save.

Matt Tietz was perfect in the field and added a pair of hits at the plate, Schwanburg was 2-for-4  and Michael Stemle added two hits.

The Fighting Knights look to take the series when they start their doubleheader against Tampa at 1 p.m.  Fans can watch the action live at LynnFightingKnights.com and receive in-game updates by following @Lynn_Knights on Twitter and Instagram.