MISENHEIMER, N.C. (March 6, 2026) — RPI used a pair of explosive offensive surges — a 10-run mid-game outburst in the opener and an eight-run first inning in the nightcap — to sweep Pfeiffer in a nonconference doubleheader on a warm Friday afternoon at Joe Ferebee Field.
Game 1 — RPI 10, Pfeiffer 5
Pfeiffer struck first with single runs in the first and second innings before adding three more in the third for a 5–0 lead, but RPI (2–4) answered with 10 unanswered runs from the fourth through sixth innings to take control.
RPI's Ben Belliss put the Engineers on the board with a two-run homer in the fourth, and Michael Lebenson followed an inning later with a solo shot to trim the deficit to 5–3..xml) Five more runs in the sixth — fueled by Pfeiffer defensive miscues and a two-RBI single from Walker Abdallah — pushed RPI ahead for good.
Belliss went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, while Abdallah finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two steals. Lebenson added two hits and a homer.
Freshman
Ben Mecimore led Pfeiffer with a 3-for-3 day that included a two-RBI double in the third.
Joe Javier added two hits and two RBIs, and Connor Coy singled twice and drove in a run.
RPI reliever Dutch Hamilton earned the win with 4? scoreless innings of one-hit work. Pfeiffer's bullpen steadied late behind four innings from
Dylan Dula, who allowed only unearned runs, but the Falcons were held scoreless over the final six frames.
Game 2 — RPI 13, Pfeiffer 2
RPI (3–4) opened the second game with an eight-run first inning, piling up seven hits and capitalizing on a Pfeiffer error to seize immediate control. The Engineers added two more in the third, two in the eighth and one in the ninth to complete the sweep.
Connor Dynan ignited the early outburst with a triple and later a two-RBI double, finishing 2-for-5 with three RBIs. Danny Nayvelt, Andrew Crux, and Stephen Koval each delivered multi-hit, run-producing efforts, and Lebenson chipped in a two-RBI double as RPI stacked up 14 hits, six doubles and a triple.
Left-hander Garret Gates earned the win with six shutout innings, striking out five while allowing five hits. Four relievers closed out the final three innings.
Pfeiffer scored both of its runs in the eighth on an RBI single by
Larson Stem and a sacrifice fly from
Tony Mejias.
Austin Wood went 2-for-3 with a stolen base, while Barrett, Mecimore, Riley and Willard each added hits.
Falcon starter
Cayman Buck lasted just one-third of an inning, allowing seven runs (six earned). Reliever
Josh Little steadied the staff with three scoreless innings and six strikeouts, but Pfeiffer could not recover from the early deficit.
Pfeiffer will return to play on Tuesday, March 10 with a 5:00 p.m. game against Johnson & Wales.
