Central Florida flashed a potent offense and a strong No. 1 starting pitcher in its spring baseball season opener Friday at Goodlett Field, but it wasn't enough to avoid an 8-7 defeat to visiting Pensacola State.
Starter Kyle Bright kept the Pirates off the board until the fifth inning, and the home team battled back from deficits repeatedly, loading the bases in the eighth and advancing the tying run to second base in the bottom of the ninth before falling short.
CF gets two more shots at Pensacola on Saturday. Chase Wissman and Nick Arscott will get the starts on the mound as the Patriots host a noon doubleheader.
