Despite a late rally, the Bearcat baseball team lost the opening game of its weekend trip to Virginia, 5-3 to host Newport News Apprentice School.

The Builders got on the board in the bottom of the first against SVC starter Fred Gillespie, with a double, a wild pitch and a groundout.  The lead became three runs in the bottom of the third, with two runs on three hits.

The hosts added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, chasing Gillespie in favor of Ryan Rojtas, who induced a fly ball to end the inning with the score 5-0.

The score remained that way until the top of the 7th.  Eddie Kilkeary singled and Nick LaCava followed with a walk.  Kilkeary moved to third on a Shane Fajt fielder's choice that erased LaCava.  Parker Janosko followed with an RBI single, getting SVC on the board.  With two outs, Tanner Yard was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Stone Holtzman singled home Fajt to make it 5-2.  Janosko rounded third and a relay throw was then sent in his direction in an attempt for a pickoff, but the throw went wide for an error, allowing Janosko to score SVC's third run.  After a pitching change, the Builders were able to get out of the inning, and SVC was unable to score in the 8th and 9th.

Gillespie (1-2) took the loss, working the first 3 2/3 innings.  Rojtas pitched two scoreless innings in relief, while Matt Evans retired all 7 batters he faced in the late innings.

The Bearcats (3-6) had just five hits on the day, while NNAS pitchers recorded 12 strikeouts.