Quentin M. Reed - Sports Information Graduate Assistant

MISENHEIMER, N.C. – On Friday, the Pfeiffer Falcons took control of sole possession of second place with a doubleheader sweep of the Erskine Flying Fleet. With the two wins Pfeiffer will now need the Limestone Saints to lose one game to Lees-McRae on Saturday and the Falcons would win the Conference Carolinas regular season title for the first time since 2000.

In a game that was back and forth, the Flying Fleet took the lead in game one as Jacquie Hill singled home two runners; Sydney Smith and Brittany Reynolds.

With Stephanie Fortner on second and Emma Tuttle on first, Chandler Walker took a base on balls to load the bases. Erskine catcher Christine Long made an errant pickoff attempt of Fortner at third that allowed Pfeiffer to score their first run. After a Rachel Crowder walk that loaded the bases up again, designated player Kiana Millsaps singled down the right field line scoring Walker and Tuttle. Anna Lauren Brafford tripled to right field to score two more Pfeiffer players. Next batter, Bailey Sherrill hit the ball to Erskine first baseman Chandler Crawford, but the unloaded another errant throw past the catcher to score their sixth run of the inning.

Erskine answered in the in their next at-bat as Long hit a homer to center field  and then  Mia Blochviak doubled to center to allow Reagan Davis to single her in to cut to 6-3.

In the bottom of the fourth, after a Fortner single and Sherrill walk, Crowder knocked in Fortner to push the lead back to four runs.

The Flying Fleet added two runs in the sixth inning as Sydney Smith doubled to right center, scoring Brittany Reynolds and Blochviak.

Erskine took a brief lead in the seventh as Crawford singled to a diving Jessica Jackson but the third baseman was unable to make the play. A sacrifice bunt by Long advanced Crawford and then two batters later, Davis singled to right field  and advanced to third right fielder Brafford allowed the ball to go under her glove and go to the fence  scoring Crawford.  Next batter Reynolds, doubled to left for the 8-7 advantage.

Pfeiffer answered right back as Brafford led off with a walk, Bailey Sherrill singled and Jackson was hit by a pitch. Next batter, Fortner walked on four straight pitches to tie the score at eight runs apiece 

In the top of the ninth, a Jackson single secured the Falcon win as it scored Brafford from second.

In game two, Pfeiffer starter Callie Kuykendall pitched an excellent seven inning complete game as she allowed just one run on five hits.

In the bottom of the third, Tuttle led off with an infield single to third base. Tuttle then advance to second a steal. Two batters later Chandler walker doubled to right center, to bring in the speedy Pfeiffer second baseman.

In the top bottom of the fourth, Bailey Sherrill was hit by a pitch and then stole her eighth base of the year. Fortner then added another walk to allow Tuttle to single home Sherrill from second base for the 2-0 lead.

Erskine added a run in the seventh but Kuykendall sealed the game with a strikeout of Blochviak.

Pfeiffer returns to action on Thursday in Burlington, North Carolina with times to still to be determined.