MARYVILLE, Mo. – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Baseball recorded an eight-run fifth inning but the Lions were unable to hold onto the lead in an 18-8 defeat to Northwest Missouri State in eight innings.

Trailing 1-0 entering the fifth, the Lions erupted for an eight-run inning. The Lions tied the game on an RBI single by catcher Ryan Riggs before taking the lead on an RBI single by outfielder Sammy Seeger.

Two more runs scored on an error and groundout followed by a solo home run by infielder Nico Patrick. Patrick was the first of six straight batters to reach with two outs, with the Lions then getting RBI singles from outfielder CJ Snowden, Riggs and infielder Matthew Schilling to cap the frame.

However, the Lions did not score in any other inning as the Bearcats rallied for three in the bottom of the fifth and then took the lead with nine runs in the sixth. The Bearcats closed out the game with five runs in the eighth.

Starter Grant Shankle worked into the fifth inning, allowing just one run over the first four frames before finishing with four runs allowed on seven hits over 4.2 innings. He walked and struck out four.

Riggs finished with three hits and two RBIs for the Lions while Schilling tallied two hits.

The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m.