HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The University of North Alabama opened its 2022 baseball season on the road at Southern Mississippi, with the Lions falling 8-1 to the Golden Eagles at Pete Taylor Park in front of a crowd almost 4,500.

North Alabama fell behind 4-0 after three innings, but the Lion pitchers put together four straight scoreless innings and UNA was able to cut the gap to 4-1. USM then added four insurance runs in the eighth to push the final margin to 8-1.

USM got three runs on three hits in the first inning off UNA starter Will Haberstock, then added a single run in the third for a 4-0 lead.

Haberstock would pitch five complete innings, before giving way to Jacob James, who then pitched two scoreless innings, before allowing two in the eight.

North Alabama got on the scoreboard in the sixth when Levi Jensen reached on an error, went to third on a Reid Homan single and scored on a throwing error as Homan stole second base.

USM's four-run rally in the eighth expanded the lead to 8-1.

Haberstock (0-1) took the loss for the Lions, allowing four runs on eight hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Carson Howard pitched the final inning for the Lions, allowing two runs on three hits.

UNA finished the game with eight hits, led by third baseman Jonathan Lane with three and shortstop Reid Homan with two.

The game was the first of a three-game series that resumes Saturday at 2:00 p.m.