Bradwell Institute opened its season at home against Brunswick in a non-region baseball game Tuesday afternoon, but despite an early one-run lead, the Tigers fell, 4-1, to the Pirates.

The Tigers scored first in the bottom of the second inning, when Garrett McCorkle got a base hit and Eric Wells drove him in.

The Pirates threatened to score in the third inning, but with one out, Tigers catcher Josh Driggers picked off a runner at third. The Pirates then loaded the bases but were unable to score when Mitch Rogers fielded a shot to center field and tagged second base.

The Pirates got a base hit and the runner advanced to third on a Tigers throwing error. A few plays later, a pitch that got away from Driggers allowed the runner to tie the game, 1-1.

But Brunswick’s plans to add additional runs were spoiled when, after the Pirates put runners on first and second, the Tigers converted a triple play. Tiger Cody Hill (Fleck) caught a line drive, tagged second and then threw the ball to McCorkle covering first for the third out.

The Pirates took a 2-1 lead in the sixth and added two more runs in the seventh.

Jacob Dill started on the mound for the Tigers, and he was relieved by Wells in the fourth inning.

The Tigers had five errors, but coach Rhett Hellgren said his players’ hitting needs to improve.

"We need to learn that the most important thing that a player can do when at the plate is to hit the ball on the ground," he said. "We had 15 of 21 outs as strikeouts or pop ups — this has got to change for us to be successful. When you hit the ball on the ground, good things happen."

But the coach added he was pleased his players never gave up and played with enthusiasm.

"I am still very excited for the season," Hellgren said.

The Tigers will travel to Charlton County for a 1:30 p.m. game Saturday.