DAVENPORT, Fla. - The Calvin University baseball team fell to .500 on its Florida trip following an 8-2 defeat to Saint Mary's University (Minn.) on Thursday at the RussMatt Invitational. 

The Knights jumped in front in the first inning on a two-out single from Matt Raymond (Chicago, Ill./Loyola Academy), and then tied the game 2-2 after the Cardinals scored twice in the top of the second thanks to a Carson Warners (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) single in the bottom of the second frame. 

The score remained knotted at 2-2 until the sixth inning, when SMU scored three times with the help of a Calvin defensive miscue. The Cardinals added three more in the eighth inning off the Knights' bullpen to take an 8-2 lead.

Calvin had opportunities at the plate with runners on base in the late innings, but hit into double players in the sixth, seventh and ninth innings as the Cardinals held on for the win.

Ian Doyle (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grandville) (1-1) started strong, but five walks proved costly in his 5.1 innings of work in defeat. He allowed five runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out five.

At the plate, Ryan Brown (Caledonia, Mich./Caledonia), Caden Penn (Macomb, Mich./Lutheran North), Patrick Gillen (Jensen Beach, Fla./Jensen Beach) and Warners each finished with two hits apiece. 

Calvin fell to 3-3 on the season in defeat. SMU improved to 2-3 with the win.

NEXT UP: Calvin baseball continues its Florida trip at the RussMatt Invitational tomorrow (Friday, March 3) when it plays Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) at 12:00 PM.