BRADENTON, Fla. - NCF Baseball dropped the first game of a four-game weekend series with Briar Cliff at IMG Academy 5-3.

The Mighty Banynas' fell behind 2-0 after two but chipped away to tie the game as Patrick Fink hit an RBI double in the bottom of the third and Andrew Merchant delivered a run-scoring ground ball in the bottom of the fourth.

Briar Cliff would rally back to go up 4-2, which NCF countered with an RBI single from Fink in the bottom of the seventh, but Chargers Nico Sall first basemen's second solo home run of the night in the top of the eighth, which served as the dagger in the series opener.

NCF is now 5-4 on the season and will host Briar Cliff for Game 2 of the series at Noon Friday.