The Moose Jaw Regals fell just short in their opening game at the 2018 Baseball Saskatchewan Junior AAA Provincial Championship in Regina.

The Regals lost 6-5 in eight innings to the Regina Pirates at Optimist Park on Friday night to kick-off the provincial tournament.

The back-and-forth game saw the Pirates strike last, scoring one run on a sac-fly by first baseman Cole Sexsmith in the top of the eighth for the win.

Moose Jaw scored first as catcher Jordan Logan led off the game with a triple and then came around to score on a passed ball.

The Priates took a 3-1 lead with three runs on four hits in the third inning, but the Regals answered back with three runs, including an RBI-single from Chris Cooper and a sac-fly by Weston Mergel, to take a 4-3 advantage.

Regina moved back in front with two runs in the fifth and Moose Jaw was able to tie the game with an RBI-single from Logan in the sixth, but the Regals couldn't find the go-ahead run despite putting a runner on third in the seventh.

Carson James started for the Regals, allowing three runs on six hits over 3 1/3 innings. He struck out one and walked none.

Cooper pitched the next 1 2/3 innings, he gave up two runs on two hits with one strikeout and one walk.

Dawson Kurz pitched the final three innings, allowing the winning run in the eighth inning.

The Regals return to the field against the Saskatoon Hoppers at 1 p.m. and the Regina Cobras at 8 p.m. on Saturday to close out the round robin.

The top-four teams advance to the semifinals on Sunday in Regina.