WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Rallying from a four-run deficit, the Bluejays would tie the game in the top of the ninth, but come up just short in the bottom half of the frame to fall 6-5 to Hamilton (N.Y.) on day four of the RussMatt Invitational in Florida.

Hamilton 6, Elmhurst 5
WP: Righter • LP: Fraga (1-1)

Hamilton would open up a 4-0 lead through five innings, scoring a run in the 2nd and 3rd innings, and two more in the 5th. The Bluejays would get on the board in the top of the 6th when Ryder and Evan Johnson were hit by pitches in back-to-back at-bats, and Rock Smith singled to load the bases with one out.

Zach Konrad's single to right would score pinch-runner Tommy Wichgers, along with Evan Johnson following an outfield error.

Hamilton would get a run back in the 7th, but after singles from Evan Johnson and Smith in the 8th inning, Adan Neives would load the bases with another hit-by-pitch. Javier Cervantes drew a bases-loaded walk on the full count to make it a 5-3 game.

In their final trip to the plate, the Jays would pull even, with the first four batters reaching base in the top of the 9th. Smith became the fifth Bluejay to be hit by pitch, bringing home Timothy O'Connell who led off the frame with an infield hit.

Brett Vercruysse recorded a sac fly to drive home Wichgers and tie the game at 5-5. However a one-out walk in the bottom of the 9th for Hamilton, followed by a single and stolen base, would set the table for a bunt attempt that would bring the winning run home.

Zach Konrad led the offense for the Bluejays, going 3-for-5 at the plate with an RBI. Jack Krueger pitched six solid innings, with two earned runs allowed.

Elmhurst will look to bounce back on Tuesday morning, when they face Kalamazoo (Mich.) in Florida beginning at 10:00 a.m. CDT.