Sophomore Eddie Morrissey led the way with three RBI, while senior John Donnellan went 3-for-4 with three runs scored; however, the St. Lawrence University baseball team dropped its Liberty League opener, falling 9-7 against Hobart on Friday night at Falcon Park in Auburn, N.Y.

St. Lawrence is now 4-4 on the year and 0-1 in league action, while Hobart is 13-5 and 1-0 in conference play.

After a slow first inning of play, the Saints hung a crooked number on the scoreboard in the top of the second with five runs.

Willie Landman led off the inning by being hit by a pitch, which was followed by a walk to Jack Finnegan. A strikeout and a flyout left the Scarlet and Brown with two runners on and two outs, but Donnellan delivered a single on a 3-1 count to load the bases.

Max Cloutier worked a walk to bring in the first run of the game, then a wild pitch brought Finnegan around to make it 2-0. Yet another walk, this time to Mike Siano, loaded the bases once again for Morrissey. The outfielder hoisted a first-pitch fastball over the right field wall for a grand slam. The celebration was cut short, however, as a coach's challenge from the Hobart bench led to the sophomore being called out at home.

Morrissey instead had to settle for a triple and three RBI to make it 5-0.

In the bottom half of the second, Hobart used the momentum of the appeal to score five runs of their own. A bases-clearing double and a two-RBI double brought the game to a level at 5-5. The Statesmen took the lead in the bottom of the third as a walk, a single, a stolen base, and a groundout led to their leadoff hitter scoring.

Donnellan continued to hit for the Saints, doubling in the top of the fourth innings, and came around to score when Siano scorched a triple to right field, making it 6-6. The tie was broken in the top of the sixth, and the senior Donnellan was once again the catalyst. The catcher hammered a triple to right center and was sent home by Cloutier to make it 7-6. The senior ended the game a home run short of the cycle after his red-hot day at the plate.

Hobart once again bounced back, this time in the bottom of the seventh when a leadoff single spiraled for St. Lawrence. Another single, followed by a triple, scored two runs and gave the Statesmen the 8-7 lead. A sacrifice bunt later in the inning gave them a two-run edge.

St. Lawrence was only able to get one runner into scoring position in the final two innings, as they went on to fall.

David Zuhlsdorf started on the bump for the Saints and the southpaw fanned six batters in three innings pitched. Nathan Jackson took the ball from the junior and pitched three innings, giving up just two hits, no runs, and striking out three. Joe LaPrade was on the hill for the final two innings and struck out four batters, making it 13 on the day for the Saints' arms.

The two teams will be back at it tomorrow for a twin bill scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on the campus of Monroe Community College in Rochester, N.Y.