NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The University of North Alabama was held to just three hits over nine innings as the Lions dropped their 2021 baseball season opener 5-1 at Belmont.

The game was scoreless in the bottom of the fourth when Belmont scored three runs off UNA's Garret Gillum. The Bruins then pushed their advantage to 5-0 with two more runs in the fifth off Bryce Parrish.

UNA finally broke through with a run in the top of the eight inning when Garrett Smith walked and later scored when Drew Hudson reached on an error but recorded the RBI.

Will Haberstock started for the Lions and allowed no runs or hits in two and two-thirds innings. He walked two and struckout four. He was the first of seven Lions to pitch in the game.

Gillum took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning of work.

Parrish allowed two runs on two hits over two innings. Jacob Laws, John Lundgren, Keegan Foge and Austin Nichols each pitched two-thirds of an inning and did not allow any runs.

Kylan Barnett led UNA with two hits, including a double.

North Alabama will play a four-game weekend series at Stetson beginning on Friday at 5:30.