RICHMOND, Ind. – The Earlham College baseball team dropped its first game of the season on Saturday, a 7-3 decision in the first of a three-game series against Kalamazoo College at Sadler Stadium.

Kalamazoo got on the board first using two hits and an Earlham error to plate the first run in the top of the first inning. The Quakers did not wait long to tie the game, however, as senior Brandon Smalling drove in fellow senior Thomas Rea in the bottom of first.

The Hornets regained the advantage in the fourth when Josh Reuter and David Kracht delivered back-to-back, two-out, RBI singles to give Kalamazoo a 3-1 lead.

The visitors would tack on another run in the top of the sixth using two bunt singles, but junior Brennan Laird hit a homerun to left center, cutting the deficit to 4-2.

Earlham rallied for one final time in the bottom of the eighth. Both junior Nate Lynch and Rea singled, and after Laird walked, the bases were loaded with just one out. Smalling earned an RBI-walk on the following at bat, getting Earlham within a single run, 4-3.

Steve Simmons then entered the game for Kalamazoo, and struck out juniors Cody Krumlauf and Eric Elkus to get out of the jam.

The Hornets put three more runs on the board in the top of the ninth to seal the victory.

Junior Howie Smith took the loss, allowing three earned runs and eight hits in five innings of work. Ryan Orr got the victory for Kalamazoo going 7.1 innings and striking out five. Simmons picked up the save.

Earlham tallied six hits in the contest, all coming from its top four hitters. Lynch and Laird led the way with two hits each.

The Quakers stand at 3-1 on the season and will play the final two games of the series against Kalamazoo tomorrow (Sunday) at Sadler Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for noon.