LOS ANGELES — Devon DeRaad hit a three-run home run to bring the Tigers to within one run andEamon McNeil scored on a wild pitch to tie the game 6-6 in the bottom of the eighth.

But the Occidental baseball team couldn't hold on in the final inning letting two runners cross the plate to drop their season opener 8-6 to Bethesda Saturday afternoon.

Season Impact: The Tigers drop their first game of the season with three games left until their SCIAC opener.

Bethesda improves to 3-3 on the season.

With Oxy down 6-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning, DeRaad launched a pitch over the right field fence scoring Reid Gibbs and Bryan Smith to cut the Flames lead to 6-5. The junior finished the game with four RIBs.

The designated hitter is picking up right where he left off last season when he was named ABCA All-West Region and set the Occidental single-season home run record with 13 blasts.

The Tigers brought out five pitchers in the opener. Riley James and Nolan Watson each had two strikeouts.

Logan Maxwell got the win for Bethesda.

Next Game: The Tigers host Willamette University in a doubleheader on February 13 at 11:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m.