HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - Despite scoring five runs in the ninth inning, the Warner University baseball team lost game one of their conference opening series with University of South Carolina Beaufort on a chilly Friday afternoon.  The Royals entered the ninth inning down 8-2 but rallied for five runs in the top half of the inning before the Sand Sharks shut the door to hold on 8-7. 

The loss drops the Royals' record to 1-4 so far in 2015 and 0-1 to begin Sun Conference play.  The Sand Sharks stay hot winning their seventh game in a row (9-1) and their first league game (1-0).

The Sand Sharks scored three runs on three hits in the bottom of the first inning as the home team took an early 3-0 lead.  Randy Rodriguez brought home Warner's first run of the game in the third inning with a sacrifice fly to right field; Kevin Gregg scored from third on the play. 

Tomas Rivera doubled home the Royals second run of the game in the fourth inning plating Broderick Bodocker to narrow the Sand Sharks' lead to 4-2. 

The Sand Sharks blew the game open in the sixth inning with four runs on five hits chasing Warner starter Dalton Kelley from the game. 

After a scoreless seventh and eighth inning from both teams the Royals entered the ninth still trailing 8-2.  George Kirkland led off the inning with a walk and the Royals' comeback bid started.  Three batters later with the bases loaded, Jordan Pike grounded out to bring in the Royals' third run of the game.  Dylan Gross and Anthony Dovale followed with back to back hits that plated two more runs and the Sand Sharks lead was down to 8-5. 

Following a pitching change, Rodocker grounded out to shortstop allowing Gross to score from third.  Rivera brought the Royals to within one run with a two-out single in the next at-bat that scored Dovale.  The Sand Sharks changed pitchers one final time and this time it worked, Jose Quintana grounded out to second base to end the comeback bid.

Kelley (0-1) took the loss with six innings pitched and eight runs allowed (five earned).  Eric Green and Bobby Barradas each tossed an inning of scoreless relief for the Royals as well.

Torri Pringle led the Royals' 11-hit attack with a 3-for-4 effort and a run scored.  Anthony Dovale, Broderick Rodocker, Tomas Rivera and Dylan Gross all went 2-for-4 rounding out the rest of the Warner offense.

The Royals and Sand Sharks return to the diamond on Saturday, Feb. 14, for a Valentine's Day doubleheader.  First pitch for game two is schedule for 12 p.m. at Richard Gray Field in Hardeeville, S.C.