BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (CentreColonels.com) - The Centre baseball team dropped a 7-5 decision to third-ranked Birmingham-Southern in the first round of the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Tournament on Friday evening at Striplin Field.

The Colonels move to 18-21 on the season while the top-seeded Panthers improve to 33-6 with the victory. 

Centre jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on the defending champs when freshman shortstop Parker Selin (Lexington, Ky.) connected on a two-run double to right center field in the top of the first frame. 

Birmingham-Southern evened the game with a pair of solo home runs in the first and second innings, respectively. 

Senior first baseman Greyson Evans (Kernersville, N.C.) put the Colonels ahead in the top of the third with an RBI single, before Centre extended its advantage to 5-2 in the fifth when senior designated hitter Trevor Brewer (Bowling Green, Ky.) and sophomore catcher Cameron Duggins (Knoxville, Tenn.) each drove in runs. 

The Panthers would cut the Centre lead to 5-3 with a run in the sixth followed by a three-run home run in the seventh to gain their first advantage of the night at 6-5. Birmingham-Southern added a run in the eighth to take a 7-5 lead. 

Selin went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI to pace the Colonels. 

Sophomore Nick Hoffman (Louisville, Ky.) suffered the loss, tossing 6 1/3 innings and allowing six runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and two walks. 

Tyler Wise went 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs, four RBI and two runs scored to pace the Panthers. 

Centre returns to action on Saturday in an elimination game against Sewanee at 2:30pm CT.