The University of Mary Washington baseball team split its season-opening doubleheader against Messiah College on Saturday, falling in the opener, 7-4, before winning the nightcap, 4-3.

In the first game, the Eagles jumped ahead with three runs in the first without a hit. After Brian Burns reached on an error, Tyler Truslow was hit by a pitch, and James Keller walked to load the bases. Jono Haught then walked with the bases loaded, and Thomas Weaver was hit by a pitch to move the score to 2-0. Keller scored on a double play.

The Eagles plated another run in the second when Nolan Gilbert walked, stole second, advanced to third on an error, and scored on a passed ball. Messiah answered with four runs in the third, one in the fourth, and two in the sixth for the 7-4 win.

Sophomore Bernie Mayflower took the loss for the Eagles, allowiing five runs in four innings on five hits, with two walks and one strikeout. Nick McIntyre pitched three innings of scoreless relief for UMW. The Eagles had five hits from five different hitters.

In the nightcap, the Eagles plated the winning run on a bases-loaded walk to Truslow. UMW scored three in the second, as Truslow provided an RBI single, followed by an RBI single from Haught and an RBI fielder's choice from Weaver.

Messiah tied the score with three in the sixth, setting the stage for the Eagles' ninth inning rally. Truslow and Keller led UMW with two hits apiece, while Connor Finnerty doubled.

Weaver gained the win in relief of Paul McClure, who allowed just three hits in five innings with four strikeouts, and Erik Jorgensen, who allowed one earned run in three innings with one strikeout. Weaver pitched a scoreless ninth to gain the win.

The Eagles will return to action with a doubleheader against Penn State Altoona on Sunday at noon.