(Tampa, FL) - The Sacred Heart Baseball team lost 5-2 to Army to conclude a three-game series with the Black Knights and a seven-game road trip through Florida on Sunday afternoon at the New York Yankees minor league complex.

After Army took an early lead in the first on a double play to score Zach Price, the Pioneers took a 2-1 lead on RBI singles with two outs by Hunter Phillips (Monroe, CT) and Kenny Byram (Ponte Verde, FL). 

Nick Leiningen (Millwood, NY) settled in, but ran into trouble in the fifth.  Daniel Cortes blooped a two-out single to left to tie the game, before J.T. Watkins gave Army the lead for good with a two-run double to deep left centerfield to make it 4-2.  Leiningen finished with five innings of work, giving up four runs on seven hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Harold Earls gave Army a 5-2 lead with a two-out RBI single in the eighth off Kody Kerski (Waterbury, CT).  He went three solid innings of relief, giving up the one run on three hits.

Phillips and Conor McEvoy (Watertown, CT) both had two hits for SHU.

Sacred Heart begins Northeast Conference play with the home opener next Friday, March 16 in the first of a four-game series with the CCSU Blue Devils.