A five-run fifth inning rally wasn’t enough as the Schreiner University baseball team dropped a 10-8 decision to Southwestern University in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference action Saturday at Bob Henry Baseball Field.

The Mountaineers (10-25, 8-19 SCAC) jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning when Blake Juarez doubled to left field, driving in AJ Rodriguez and Shawn Rivera.

Southwestern (13-23, 11-16 SCAC) broke through in the fourth inning before exploding for eight runs in the fifth. Connor Duffey sparked the Pirates’ rally with a two-run homer, part of his three-hit, three-RBI performance.

Schreiner responded immediately in the bottom half of the fifth. With the bases loaded, Juarez drew a walk to force in Daniel Rodriguez. Kale Lackey then delivered the biggest hit of the day for the Mountaineers, crushing a bases-clearing triple that brought the home team within two runs at 9-7.

The game turned chippy when Southwestern pitcher Silas Jones was ejected after hitting a Schreiner batter following a warning from umpires.

Southwestern added another run in the sixth on Tanner Teffs’ RBI double. The Mountaineers cut the deficit to 10-8 in the eighth when AJ Rodriguez singled to bring home Daniel Rodriguez, but couldn’t complete the comeback.

AJ Rodriguez led Schreiner with three hits and an RBI, while Juarez and Lackey each drove in three runs. Nolan Sauceda (1-8) took the loss for the Mountaineers, allowing seven runs in four innings.

The Mountaineers continue their homestand next weekend when they host Texas Lutheran for a three-game series beginning Friday at 2 p.m.