DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The University of South Carolina Beaufort baseball team jumped out to an early lead against No. 3 Embry-Riddle on Friday but couldn't hold on, falling 5-2 in the opener of a three-game Sun Conference series at Sliwa Stadium.

The Sand Sharks (4-2, 2-2 TSC) recorded three straight two-out singles in the first inning — the last a two-run hit from Brandon Joyce — to claim a 2-0 lead, but they managed only three hits the rest of the way against Houston transfer Daniel Poncedeleon. 

Poncedeleon (1-0) struck out 10 and allowed two runs on six hits in a  complete game. USCB starter CJ Kelly matched him for four innings, allowing just two unearned runs on five hits and striking out six, but his pitch count was near 80 through four frames and the Sand Sharks had to go to the bullpen. 

Embry-Riddle (3-5, 3-1) broke open a tied game with three runs in the fifth against Gage Roth (1-1), who gave up three runs — two earned — on four hits while striking out five in four innings of work. 

Erik Armstrong was the only USCB player with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 and scoring a run. Liam Goodall and Jordan Johnson each went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Eagles. 

The series concludes with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Saturday.