Box Score Monmouth scored first, but fell in their home opener to Blackburn 3-1 Saturday afternoon when the Beavers scored late.
 
Connor McDonald scattered seven hits for the Scots, but came away with the hard luck loss when Blackburn fought back from a 1-0 first inning deficit. Ryan Sparks opened Monmouth's first with a base hit and eventually scored with two outs on a balk to give the Scots the early lead.
 
Blackburn knotted the game in the sixth, opening the inning with a base hit and moving the runner to second on a sac bunt. A base hit up the middle ensued, scoring the runner from second and tying the game at 1-1. McDonald kept the Beavers scoreless over the next two-plus innings retiring eight straight batters before surrendering runs in the ninth as the Beavers picked up four of their eight hits in the final frame.
 
The Scots threatened in the ninth when Bryson Sheppard lead off with a single to right, but Blackburn shut the door retiring the next three batters.
 
Monmouth is scheduled to host Iowa Wesleyan University Sunday for a 1 p.m. twinbill.