Cookeville, Tenn. – The Le Moyne College baseball team dropped its season-opening doubleheader at Tennessee Tech University Friday afternoon at TTU's Quillen Field.

The Dolphins took an early lead in both contests, but the Golden Eagles rebounded to claim a 6-2 win in game one, a nine-inning contest, and a 4-2 victory in game two, a seven-inning contest, in the first two games of a four-game series in Cookeville.

Sophomore infielder Ethan Farina (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa/Saint Rose) and freshman infielder Dominick Russ (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) delivered strong performances in their Le Moyne debuts in game one. Farina recorded a game-high three hits in four at-bats, including a double in the top of the fifth, while Russ went 2 for 4 and recorded his first career RBI in the top of the third to give Le Moyne a 1-0 lead.

Graduate left-hander Max Parker (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) started game one on the mound for the 'Phins and recorded four strikeouts with four hits and four runs allowed in 5.0 innings. Graduate right-hander Joel Connors (Brampton, Ontario/Heart Lake/Lakeland Community College/St. Andrew's/St. Bonaventure) made his Le Moyne debut in relief, surrendering three hits and two runs in 3.0 innings of work.

TTU took its first lead of the series in the bottom of the third in game one when sophomore designated hitter Mack Whitcomb drove a three-run home run down the left field line.

The Golden Eagles extended their lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the fourth when third baseman Preston Steele drew a leadoff walk and eventually crossed the plate on a fielding error with one out in the inning.

Farina ripped his double down the left field line with one out and nobody on in the top of the fifth, but TTU starting pitcher Jack Brafa retired the next two Le Moyne hitters to strand Farina on second and maintain the three-run lead.

TTU put runners one first and second with one out in the bottom of the fifth following back-to-back walks, but Parker got a strikeout and an infield popup to get out of the inning and end his day's work.

Le Moyne sophomore infielder Mike Whelehan (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) drew a leadoff walk in the top of the sixth, prompting TTU head coach Matt Bragga to bring in right-handed reliever Patrick Johnson.

Designated hitter Tyler Campbell (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill/Onondaga C.C.) drew a walk to move Whelehan into scoring position, then both players advanced a base following a fielding error with one out in the inning. With the bases loaded, left fielder Jack Cannon (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) hit a ground ball towards second base, driving in Whelehan and making it 4-2 in favor of the Golden Eagles.

Tennessee Tech extended its lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the sixth with the help of a two-RBI single from shortstop Owen Lee.

Farina and Russ each recorded a base hit in the top of the seventh, but a throw down to second that caught Farina stealing prevented the Dolphins from advancing a runner into scoring position.

Connors delivered a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the seventh, then stranded a runner on first during a scoreless bottom of the eighth.

Cannon singled through the right side to lead off the top of the ninth for the 'Phins, but TTU reliever Drew Mattox got three consecutive fly outs to secure the 6-2 win for the Golden Eagles.

Le Moyne got off to an auspicious start in game two as senior outfielder Wyatt Patchett (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) smashed the team's first home run of the season, a two-run shot, in the top of the first.

Third baseman Jackson Rooker recorded a one-out single in the bottom of the first, but Le Moyne starting pitcher Jacob Crystal (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) picked him off, then recorded a strikeout to end the inning.

TTU got a run back in the second with the help of a Le Moyne fielding error and a sacrifice fly from first baseman Kayne Jinks.

The Golden Eagles loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the third, and second baseman Eddie Garza hit a ground ball to the right side that drove in Rooker. TTU then took a 3-2 lead as Whitcomb scored on a wild pitch during the next at bat.

Junior infielder Adam Sullivan (Syracuse, N.Y./Marcellus) drew a one-out walk for Le Moyne in the top of the fourth and advanced to second on a wild pitch, but TTU starting pitcher Jaxson Pease, who finished the contest with six strikeouts, one walk and two unearned runs allowed in 4.1 innings of work, got a strikeout and a groundout to strand Sullivan on base and protect the one run lead.

Tennessee Tech doubled its lead in the bottom of the fifth following back-to-back doubles from Whitcomb and center fielder Nicho Jordan.

Senior right-hander Bobby McBride (Brewster, N.Y./Brewster/UConn/Coastal Carolina) entered the game to make his Le Moyne debut, and got out of the inning with a 4-6-3 double play.

Whelehan led off the top of the sixth with a double to right-center field, but TTU reliever Juan Vargas responded with two consecutive strikeouts followed by an infield popup to end the inning and strand Whelehan on second.

McBride tallied two strikeouts during a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth.

Following two more strikeouts from Vargas to begin the top of the seventh, Russ smashed a double to center field to bring the tying run to the plate. Vargas then struck out the next Le Moyne batter to earn the save and complete the doubleheader sweep for the Golden Eagles.

The Dolphins and the Golden Eagles will play game three of their series Saturday at 1:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM CT, followed by game four Sunday at 12:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM CT.