PITTSBURGH, Pa. - For the first time since beginning practices, La Roche baseball got to partake in activities on a baseball field. It came in the form of the season opener, in which the Redhawks fell to the Chatham Cougars, 16-7.

Chatham struck immediately in the bottom of the first, plating five runs to take the early lead.

La Roche struck back in the top of the second, when Tanner Schmidt drove in a pair of runs to cut the deficit to 5-2.

The Cougars would then go on to score 11 unanswered runs, picking up one in the bottom of the second, seven in the bottom of the third and three in the bottom of the fifth to close out their scoring for the night.

The Redhawks continued to fight, scoring two runs in the top of the sixth behind a Dimitri Gary RBI double and a Dante Armanini sacrifice fly.

Two more runs crossed in the top of the seventh, thanks to a Josh Dreyer two RBI single and the final run for the red and black came in the top of the eighth on a Dom Brncic RBI groundout.

Larry Bielawski got the start for La Roche and in 2.1 innings allowed nine runs (eight earned), seven hits, five walks and struck out three.

Six releivers combined to throw 5.2 innings, allowing seven runs (three earned), nine hits, three walks and struck out four.

Offensively, Dreyer led the way with a 3-for-5 outing, adding two RBI and a run scored.

The Redhawks are set to return to action on Thursday, Feb. 27 when they travel to Washington & Jefferson. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.