BEVERLY, Mass. --  The Bates baseball team took an early lead but a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning proved to be the difference in a 4-3 road loss to Endicott Thursday afternoon in non-conference action. 

The Bobcats (2-5) tallied a pair of runs in the top of the first against Endicott starter Nicholas Cannata. First-year Brennan Kelley (Huntersville, N.C) led off the game with a walk. One out later, junior Tyler Attal (Los Angeles) reached on a fielder's choice. He stole second base and scored on an RBI single down the left field like by junior Henry Jamieson (St. Simons Island, Ga.), putting Bates up 1-0. Senior Bryan Gotti (Westwood, Mass.) followed with an RBI double deep down the left field line, extending the lead to 2-0.

Senior captain starting pitcher Braden Karess (Boxborough, Mass.) tossed three innings of shutout ball until the Gulls (3-0) got on the board in the fourth. With one away, Jake Nardone homered to right center, cutting the Bates lead to 2-1.

The Bobcats maintained that 2-1 lead until the seventh. Karess went four innings of one-run ball, allowing three hits and striking out three. He did not walk anyone. Sophomore Luke Linnehan (Hingham, Mass.) relieved Karess and tossed two shutout frames, striking out three.

But Nardone struck again in the seventh inning, doubling in two runs off first-year reliever Christopher McGrail (Dedham, Mass.) and putting the Gulls up 3-2.

Down by one, the Bobcats rallied in the top of the eighth against reliever Max Tarlin. Junior Drew Fallon (Mansfield, Mass.) singled to left to start the frame and Kelley drew his second walk of the afternoon. Fallon advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt and scored on an Attal single to left center, tying the game at three. But a double play ended the inning.

With one out in the eighth, Robbie Wladkowski hit a solo home run off sophomore reliever Jack Potash (Weston, Conn.), giving Endicott the lead for good. 

Senior captain Kevin Lucey (Topsfield, Mass.) singled with one out in the ninth but Bates could not get him home. Tarlin (1-0) got the win, pitching the final two innings for the Gulls, who used six pitchers in the game. Potash (0-1) took the loss for Bates. 

Lucey finished 2-4 at the plate but the Bobcats recorded just seven hits as a team. Endicott finished with eight hits, led by Nardone, who went 2-4 with a double, a home run, and three RBIs.

The Bobcats are back in action on Saturday, March 19 for a doubleheader at Brandeis. First pitch of game one is set for 1pm.