Jeremy Zalacca - Director of Athletic Communications

MISENHEIMER, N.C. - The Pfeiffer baseball team (11-22, 4-11 CC) hosted North Greenville (24-9, 14-1) in a Conference Carolinas doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Joe Ferebee Field. Unfortunately, the Falcons suffered consecutive two-run losses to extend their losing streak to five games.

In game one, North Greenville jumped out to an early lead in the top of the second with a two out rally. Andrew Frazier laced a double to right center and came around to score on a Mitchell Painter single to give the Crusaders the lead. The score would remain 1-0 until the bottom of the fourth when the Falcons came through with a two out hit. Xavier Rodriguez sent a single to right center scoring Jordan Eckard and Tanner Mathis and gave the Falcons a 2-1 advantage. The Crusaders wasted little time grabbing the lead back as they put together three runs on four hits in the top of the fifth. The lead would swell to 6-2 until Derek Perry crushed a two run homer to left center in the bottom of the seventh to cut the lead in half. A Cody McKenzie walk put the tying run in the batter's box but Hunter Dilworth got the last two outs to improve to 6-2 on the season. Dilworth entered the game with a conference-leading 1.38 ERA and went seven innings while allowing three earned runs.   

In game two, Ethan Greene got the start and struck out a season-high eight batters in just five innings of work. However, the Crusaders got to Greene with a pair of two-run homeruns and held a 5-2 lead after 4 ½ innings. In the bottom of the fifth, Pfeiffer loaded the bases with one out for Anthony Allende who doubled to left center, scoring two runs. Eckard would reach via error to plate Zach Scudder and even the game at five. The Crusaders would score the next five runs to take a 10-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth. Hunter Griffin led off Pfeiffer's last at bat with a single to center and Scudder doubled down the line to move Griffin to third. An Allende single and Eckard double cut the lead to 10-7 and a RBI groundout from Dylan Goodman made the score 10-8. With two outs, Pfeiffer had the tying run at the plate but Ryne Stanley struck out looking to end the ballgame.

Allende went 3-for-5 with two runs, four RBI and a home run on the game. Scudder added a HR and scored three runs. Chase Saunders suffered the loss as he surrendered two earned runs in relief of Greene.

The Falcons return to action on Friday as they open a Conference Carolinas weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.