The Hannibal Cavemen battled back in the late innings, but couldn’t hold off the Danville Dans and lost in Danville 8-7 Friday night.

The Dans scored early off Cavemen starter Sam Cottingham-Beard. They scored three in the first on a two-run triple and a groundout.

The Cavemen came back with two of their own in the second. First baseman Mike Bibbs led off the inning with a walk. With one out, third baseman Joe Redburn reached on an error. They were driven in on a single by left fielder Justin Blechle.

The Cavemen trailed 7-3 in the top of the ninth, but they scored four unearned runs on two hits and four Danville errors to tie the game.

However, Cavemen reliever Connor Keating was unable to hold the Dans in the bottom of the ninth, with two singles and a double plating the winning run for the home team.

Hannibal falls to 0-3 with the loss. They open their home season Saturday night against the Terre Haute Rex. Game time is 6:35 at Clemens Field. The webcast on khmoradio.com starts at 6:15. To listen live, click here.

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