ABILENE – The May Tigers suffered their first defeat of the season Friday as their Class 1A Region I Baseball Area Playoff Series with the Ira Bulldogs began with a 7-0 setback at Abilene Christian High School.

Games 2 and 3, if needed, of the series between the Tigers (13-1-1) and Bulldogs (22-1) will be back at Abilene Christian High School at 1 p.m. Saturday

The winner of the May-Ira series will face either Hamlin or Westbrook in the Class 1A Region I semifinals next weekend.

In Friday’s outing, the Tigers were limited to five hits by Ira pitcher Jeren Pena, who struck out 11 and walked three.

Kaden Watkins doubled for May while Hunter Seider, Lane Goodson, Ben Harrell and Kayden Psencik each singled.

Seider and Goodson teamed up to allow seven runs on 12 hits with six strikeouts and three walks on the mound for May.

Ira – which scored two runs in the first inning, one each in the third and fifth, and three in the sixth – finished with 12 hits, as Pena doubled twice and drove in two, while Brandt Cox also doubled and plated three base runners.