NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Lewis baseball team rallied to win its season opener 5-3 at Trevecca Nazarene on Friday afternoon. The Flyers are 1-0 on the season while the Trojans fall to 3-1.

"We played hard for nine innings," Lewis head baseball coach Tim McDonough said. "That's what we needed to do win against a good team like Trevecca."

The Trojans jumped out to 2-0 lead in the home half of the second on a two-out, two-run double to center field off the bat of Justin Chauvin.

The Flyers answered with two runs in its half of the third to tie the score. They loaded the bases with one out. Ryan Schefske (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East) drove in the first run with a walk and then Andrew Tenison (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) tied the game with a single. Lewis had a chance for more but left the bases loaded.

Trevecca Nazarene regained the lead in the fourth taking advantage of two Flyer miscues. Chauvin drove in his third run of the contest reaching on an error.

Lewis came right back in the fifth tying the score without a hit. Connor Rutherford (DePere, Wis./DePere) led off the inning with a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on Schefske's groundout to second.

The Flyer bullpen held the Trojan lineup in check over the final four innings allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out six.

"The bullpen was outstanding all day," McDonough continued. "All three guys competed and pitched confidently."

Lewis took the lead in the eighth. With one out Anthony Rios (Lemont, Ill./St. Laurence) and Julian Everett (Frankfort, Ill/Lincoln Way East) hit back-to-back doubles to put the Flyers ahead 4-3 and then with two outs Anthony Cavalieri (Western Springs, Ill./Fenwick) reached on an infield single scoring Everett with an insurance run.

"It was good to see Andrew and Julian get their first college hits," McDonough said. "Those were huge runs they drove in for us."

Matt Verdun (Homer Glen, Ill./St. Rita) pitched the final two innings retiring six of the eight hitters he faced to pick up the save.

Pete Hamot (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) got the start for Lewis allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits with six strikeouts and a walk in four innings of work.

"Pete was solid for his first outing of the year," McDonough said. "He could've commanded his breaking ball better but he looked strong and confident and his performance today is certainly something to build on."

The Flyers had six hits in the contest with Cavalieri, Tenison, Rios, Everett, Austin Tittle (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) and Brandon Post (Elk Grove Village, Ill./Elk Grove) recording a hit each. Schefske drove in two runs while Cavlieri, Tenison and Everett had an RBI each.

Lewis returns to the diamond on Saturday for a doubleheader against Trevecca Nazarene beginning at 12 p.m.