Box Score Quentin M. Reed – Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
ELON, N.C. – The No. 6 seeded Pfeiffer Falcons (23-23) used an eight run sixth inning to knock off the No. 1 seeded and the nations top ranked team, Mount Olive (42-8) on Thursday night in Conference Carolinas Tournament play. Pfeiffer improved to 3-0 in the first round of Conference Tournament action in the past three season with a 9-2 upset victory. It was also the second straight year Pfeiffer entered as the No. 6 seed and knocked off the league's top seed in game one.
Senior Brandall Peters led the Falcons at the plate as he went 3-for-3 with three RBI, including a bases loaded triple. Zach Scuddder went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Jordan Eckard also knocked in two runs.
Pfeiffer was blanked through the first five innings and managed just one hit against Trojan ace Bruce Zimmermann. However, that all changed in the sixth inning.
In the top of the sixth, the Falcons sent 12 batters to the plate with eight consecutive batters reaching base and five consecutive batters had hits. Peters came to the plate twice in the inning as he had a single and then added the triple to cap off the Pfeiffer rally.
The Falcons got a measure of revenge against Zimmermann who was the winning pitcher in last year's Conference Tournament Championship over Pfeiffer. Zimmermann had not given up more than four earned runs in a start all season but gave up all eight tonight and lasted a season-low 5.1 innings.
Along with Peters, the other hero of the night was senior Drew Wilson who notched his fifth win of the season. Against the nation's top team, Wilson went seven innings and allowed just two runs with four strikeouts.
Pfeiffer, who has advanced to the past two tournament championship games, become the third straight No. 6 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed in the league tournament. The past two teams (Pfeiffer and North Greenville) have gone on to the championship game.
Pfeiffer returns to action Friday in day two of Conference Carolinas Tournament action at 3 p.m. as they face Barton. Pfeiffer took two of three in Wilson earlier this season.
