SAVANNAH, Ga.- Bernard Barnes drove in four runs to lead Savannah State to a season opening 6-4 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson, in a game played at Tiger Field.

Barnes, who finished the day with two hits and one run scored, hit a three-run double in the first inning and a RBI single in the bottom of the seventh.

SSU scored all the runs they would need in the first inning.

Hector Benitez and Kyle Gerdts both drew walks and a single by Turner Davis allowed Benitez to score the first run of the contest. Jorge Lopez flied out to center field but Bryxe Luken's walk loaded the bases for Barnes who ripped a double to left field to clear the bases. Barnes scored on a fly out by Khayld Cox to make the score 5-0.

FDU, the alma mater of Savannah State president Dr. Cheryl D. Dozier, scored a run in the top of the fifth and added three more in the seventh to slice the Tigers lead to 5-4.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Luken singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Luken scored on a single by Barnes for the final run of the game.

The Knights had two runners on base in the eighth but was unable to score.

Luken had three hits and scored twice for SSU while Davis collected two hits, scored once and drove in a run.

Trevor McKenna earned the win on the mound for SSU. McKenna pitched five innings, gave up three hits, two walks and one run while striking out two. Paul Sheffield earned the save, striking out two in two innings.

Evan McDonald had two hits for Fairleigh Dickinson while Corey Zeller was tagged with the loss on the mound. Zeller struck out five in four innings but surrendered five walk and five runs.

Both teams had eight hits. The Knights left eight men on base while SSU left seven.