The William Jewell College baseball team opened the 2016 season Friday in Lawton, Okla. against Cameron University. The Aggies scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take the 8-5 win. The Cardinals start the season 0-1, while Cameron moves to 8-0 on the year.

The Aggies put four unanswered runs on the board through the first two innings and added another in the bottom of the fifth to take a 5-0 lead.

In the top of the seventh senior Dane Erbst led off the frame with a single followed by a double from Garrett McKinzie to put two on for Jesse Gray. Gray singled and advanced all the way to third on an error by the Aggie centerfielder, scoring both runners. A balk from the Cameron pitcher allowed Gray to score the second unearned run of the inning and pulled the Cardinals within a 5-3 margin.

Jewell loaded the bases in the top of the eighth and scored two runs to tie the game at five on RBI from Erbst and McKinzie. In the bottom half of the frame, the Aggies strung together four singles combined with a Cardinal error to grab a three run lead heading into the final inning.

Gray doubled to lead off the ninth and give Jewell a spark but three straight strikeouts ended the threat. In total the Cardinals had eight hits led by two a piece from Gray and Matej Sucha.

The Cardinals will remain in Lawton, Okla. this weekend as they will have three more games with Cameron, beginning with a double-header tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., followed by a single game on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.