Tyler Waddell – Sports Information Graduate Assistant

MISENHEIMER, NC – The Pfeiffer University baseball team opened its three-game series with No. 5-ranked Mount Olive by dropping a 7-5 decision to the Trojans on Friday evening at Joe Ferebee Field. UMO stretched its winning streak to six and remained undefeated in Conference Carolinas, heading into Saturday with a 21-5 (10-0) record. The loss puts Pfeiffer at 11-13 (4-6) on the season.

The first half of the game featured an intriguing pitcher's duel. Pfeiffer senior left-hander Drew Wilson (1-4) was dominate through five innings, allowing just two hits against an opponent that entered the series with six batters who boast a .300-plus batting average. But Mount Olive's Bruce Zimmerman matched him, surrendering four hits while keeping the score even with two goose eggs.

Mount Olive's bats woke up in the top of the sixth. With two outs and runners at the corners, Zach Mozingo hit an RBI single to make the score 1-0. Bradley Ragan followed a Wilson walk by driving in a run; a Pfeiffer error on the same play would give the Trojans a 3-0 lead.

Wilson finished with his third quality start of the 2017 campaign, yielding three runs off four hits while striking out four batters.

UMO extended its lead by adding three more runs in the seventh to give it a 6-0 advantage heading into the final three at bats for the Falcons. Junior C/2B Derek Perry knocked in Pfeiffer's first run of the night via sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the inning, followed by a solo shot from senior 3B Zach Scudder, a run off a Trojan error, and an RBI single courtesy of senior 1B Andrew Toney to cut the deficit to two at 6-4.

Mount Olive responded with a single run in the top of the ninth and held Pfeiffer to a single run in the top of the ninth – a leadoff home run from Perry – to hold on for the 7-5 win.

Scudder and junior OF Xavier Rodriguez led the Falcons with three hits apiece. Perry finished 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBI's.

The Trojans' No. 1-7 batters all ended the night with at least one hit, drawing nine walks as a team.

First pitch for Game 2 is scheduled for 2 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.