Tyler Waddell – Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Due West, SC – Pfeiffer's baseball team fell to 6-5 on the season after suffering a 7-3 loss to Erskine on Friday afternoon at Grier Field.

Erskine capitalized on scoring opportunities early, as Flying Fleets first baseman Henry Faunce knocked outfielder Trevor Wood in with two outs to start the game with a 1-0 lead after the first frame.

In the top of the second, Pfeiffer gained the advantage courtesy of a leadoff walk via catcher Derek Perry, followed by a double from right fielder Damon Smith to put runners on first and third with no outs. Third baseman Isaiah Stone then singed in both baserunners the make the score 2-1 in favor of the Falcons before the next three batters were retired. They'd then add another run off four hits in the third to make it 3-1 heading into the bottom half of the inning.

Center fielder Chase Watts cut the deficit in half for Erskine, leading off with a solo home run to make it 3-2 in the bottom of the third, and the club added another off a Dylan Goodman wild pitch to even the score at 3-all.

The Flying Fleets regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a second moonshot from Watts, who went on to finish 3-for-4 with three RBI on the day. They'd add three more in the eighth to put things out of reach as starting pitcher Michael Carpin, who went the distance with a complete game, prevented any chance for a Falcons rally late down the stretch.

Carpin pitched all nine innings for Erskine, striking out six and walking two while improving to 4-1 on the season. Falcons reliever Will Altemueller received the loss.

Pfeiffer finished with double-digit hits (10) as a team for the fourth consecutive game and was paced by Stone, a freshman who recorded the first multi-hit performance of his career by going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI – also the first two of his career.

Games 2 and 3 of a three-game series will be played tomorrow, Feb. 25 at approximately 12:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.