The Skyhawk baseball team opened the home portion of its 2006 campaign with a doubleheader split Saturday against visiting Bradley University. The Skyhawks lost the first game 7-2, but won the second game 4-3.

Skyhawk sophomore catcher Chris Rezabek went 2-for-3 at the plate in the first game, while sophomore Nick Luper doubled to center field to plate two runs.

The Skyhawks managed six hits off Bradley’s starting pitcher Brandon Magee. The right-hander pitched all seven innings and struck out eight en route to his first win of the season.

The Skyhawks used three pitchers. Jacob Smothers suffered the loss and is now 0-2 on the season. He pitched 4.2 innings and allowed three hits, five runs and three walks. He struck out three.

Micky Dobson and Casey Estill also pitched. Dobson worked one inning and gave up two hits, two runs and a walk. He struck out three. Estill pitched 1.1 innings and didn’t allow a hit. He struck out two.

Bradley’s Peter Malinowski hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the fifth inning to break open a 2-2 tie.

In the second game, the Skyhawks scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to grab their first victory of the season.

Chad Green had an RBI double in the inning and scored on a passed ball. Zane Gresback and Zach Dean also scored in the inning for the Skyhawks.

Chadwick Cameron picked up his first win of the season. Cameron pitched three innings in relief. He gave up two hits and struck out four.

Bradley’s Peter Elmer was tagged with the loss. The Bradley starter, Collin Walker pitched 6.1 innings and gave up six hits, three runs and three walks. He struck out three.

The Skyhawks scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth inning but it wasn’t enough to beat Bradley Sunday afternoon in the third and final game of the three-game series.

Bradley (2-1) scored eight runs in the third inning, two in the fifth and four in the seventh inning to cruise past the host Skyhawks 14-6. Skyhawk designated hitter Kevin Holt went 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI in the bottom of the ninth.

Joe Raccuglia, Lance Renton and Dean had one hit and one RBI each in the game.

The Skyhawks had eight hits off four Bradley pitchers.

However, Bradley starter Michael Christle tossed six innings and only allowed two of the eight hits. Christle gave up three walks and struck out six en route to his first win of the season.

Ryan Rockholt took the loss for the Skyhawks. He falls to 0-2 on the year.

Eric Walker, Jimmy Gann and Nick Latimer also pitched for the Skyhawks. The four pitchers gave up a combined eight hits and eight walks, while striking out eight.

The Skyhawks fall to 1-5 on the season and return to action today when they travel to the University of Memphis. Action gets under way at 4 p.m.