ABILENE – In their final action prior to the start of the District 6-4A baseball schedule, the Brownwood Lions dropped a 7-5 contest at Class 5A Abilene High Saturday afternoon.

The Lions (5-12) grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, but Abilene closed the gap to 3-2 in the bottom half and took a 5-3 advantage in the third. Trailing 6-3 in the sixth, Brownwood crept within a run, but the Eagles added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.

Brownwood collected nine hits – two each from Garrett Wilkerson and Cannon Calvert and one apiece by Robbie Robinson, Harrison Sweaney, Shaxton Simpson and Carter Massey. Simpson led the team with a pair of RBIs while Wilkerson, Sweaney and Massey each plated a runner.

On the mound, Sweaney, Simpson and Massey teamed up to yield five earned runs on nine hits with six strikeouts and four walks. The Lion defense committed one error behind them.

In the three-run first inning, Robinson led off the game with a double and scored on a one-out RBI single by Wilkerson. Calvert and Sweaney then walked to load the bases with one out, and Simpson followed with a two-RBI single to right field for a 3-0 advantage.

Brownwood’s two runs in the sixth inning made the score 6-5 and came after Wilkerson and Calvert both singled to start the frame, then Sweaney’s RBI bunt single plated Wilkerson. With two outs, Massey’s RBI single brought home Sweaney.

The Lions will host Stephenville (15-6) at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the District 6-4A opener for both squads, then Brownwood will visit the Yellow Jackets at 7 p.m. Friday to wrap up the league series.