BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Lynn baseball team stepped onto the diamond for the first time in 2017 Friday afternoon, and many wondered how so many new faces could respond to adversity. What help would come on the mound? What bats would step up after a 103-homerun season last year? Well after being down to Alabama-Huntsville 5-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh, both questions would be answered. Enrique Perez came in and shut the Chargers down on the mound and the bats slowly came around with Willie Seay providing a clutch base-hit off the bench. Miguel Ceballos powered his second of the day over the wall in the eighth, proving to be the difference.  

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lynn 7, Alabama-Huntsville 5
Records: Lynn (1-0, 0-0 SSC), Alabama-Huntsville (0-1)
Location: Lynn Baseball Field | Boca Raton, Fla.
All-time Series: Lynn leads the series, 5-3
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STATS of THE GAME:

• Ceballos led the way for the Fighting Knights, hitting 2-for-4 on the day with three RBI and three runs scored. He was responsible for four of the seven runs scored.
• Coach Rudy Garbalosa looked for new faces to make instant impacts, and two stuck out. One being Willie Seay, who pinch-hit and came up with two clutch hits in his two attempts at the plate. Seay managed to knock in his first run in the Blue and White in the process.
• Frank Grandinette was handed the ball for first pitch, and the senior leader went six innings, giving up five runs on seven hits, while striking out five and walking two.
• Another newcomer for the home team that contributed immediately was Enrique Perez, and the junior right-hander was dominant, going three-scoreless innings, giving up only one hit and striking out three in the process of getting his first win of the year.
• Another returnee that added to the runs produced was Tyler Curtis, who hit 1-for-3 with one RBI.
• Add another new face to the hit column, lead-off man Jake Rouse, went 1-for-3 at the plate, but also got on base twice via the walk.
• Jarren Pinkney added one RBI on a SAC fly in his first appearance in the Blue and White.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• Ceballos was able to blast nine balls over the fence in 2016, and already has put two over in one outing.
• Six of the seven runs scored by the Fighting Knights came after the seventh inning.
• This opening day victory is the first for Lynn since defeating St. Thomas, 7-6, on Jan. 31 2015.

UP NEXT:

The Fighting Knights return to action on Saturday, when they take on rival Barry for a non-conference match-up. First pitch is slated for 1:00 pm.