WALESKA, Ga. -- Playing its first-ever Appalachian Athletic Conference games on Saturday, the Reinhardt College baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader with the visiting Bluefield College Ramblin' Rams. Reinhardt lost the opener 3-0 and the second contest 3-1 at Ken White Baseball Field. Bluefield received 11 votes in the most recent NAIA poll to rank 39th nationally.  

In game one, the Ramblin' Rams scored a run in each of the second, fifth and seventh innings and made it stand up.

The Eagles had a 7-6 edge in hits. Reinhardt committed four errors and the guests three, and each squad left seven runners on base.

Jeremy Roberts led the Eagles by going 2-for-3 while Michael Lonati was 1-for-2 with a double and a sacrifice bunt. Brett Flick, Michael Willis, Brent Martin and Will Foster each went 1-for-3.

On the mound for Reinhardt, Matt Dalton pitched a complete game and was the tough-luck loser. In seven innings of work, he scattered six hits and gave up just one earned run while striking out nine and walking two.

Bluefield again built a 3-0 lead in the second contest with a solo run in each of the first, third and sixth innings. The Eagles got on the scoreboard with a run in the bottom of the sixth, but could get no closer.

The Rams outhit Reinhardt 8-2 and stranded seven base runners to the Eagles' three. Bluefield made two errors and the hosts one.

For Reinhardt, Mike Smothers finished 1-for-1 with a double, two walks and an RBI while Jay Huffman was 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored.

Drew Tyson was the Eagles' starting pitcher and absorbed the loss after throwing 5 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs with four strikeouts and two walks before giving way to Ryan McDowell, who tossed the final 1 1/3 innings. McDowell surrendered only one hit and no runs while recording two strikeouts and no walks.

Reinhardt falls to 6-7 overall and 0-2 in the AAC while the Rams are 7-4 overall, including 2-0 in conference play. The two teams meet again for a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Waleska.