AVON, Ohio - The ninth-ranked Kirkwood baseball team began the 2019  season by splitting a doubleheader against Cuyahoga Community College  in Ohio Friday afternoon.

The Eagles won the first game, 7-5, in nine innings. Cuyahoga took the  nightcap, 3-1, in a game shortened to six innings due to darkness.

The temperature at game-time Friday for the opener was 33 degrees.

Jackson Bennett was the winning pitcher and collected the game-winning  RBI for Kirkwood in Game 1. Bennett pitched three strong innings in  relief and gave the Eagles a 6-5 lead in the top of the ninth when he  hit for himself.

Bennett did not allow any hits or runs in the last three innings, with  four strikeouts and one walk. Carter Lawler also pitched three  scoreless innings in relief in Game 1.

Zion Pettigrew was 2-for-3 with two doubles and scored four runs for  Kirkwood in the opener. Kam Arons was 2-for-3 and scored twice. Corey  Graham was 2-for-4.

Kirkwood collected only three hits in the 3-1 loss.

GAME 1

Kirkwood     002 020 102 - 7 10 1
Cuyahoga     300 200 000 - 5 8 x

Leff, Lawler (4), Bennett (7) and Thompson. W - Bennett (1-0). 2B -  Pettigrew (2), Thompson.

GAME 2

Kirkwood     001 000 - 1 3 1
Cuyahoga     000 30x - 3 3 x

Krob, Nigut (4) and Thompson. L - Krob. 2B - Usher.