BALTIMORE, Md. (May 16, 2026) — Pfeiffer University rallied past Mary Washington, earning the first NCAA Division III program win by an 8-6 score a before falling to Pomona-Pitzer later in the day to close the Falcons' NCAA Tournament run at Babb Field on the campus of Johns Hopkins University.
Pfeiffer (26-22) opened the tournament with an 8-6 win over Mary Washington behind timely power hitting and strong relief pitching.
After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning and 3-1 after two, the Falcons responded with a three-run third to take control.
Ben Mecimore and
Josh Jones each homered in the game, and
Ethan Willard added a two-run shot as Pfeiffer's offense produced 12 hits and three home runs.
Jones led the way, going 3 for 5 with three RBIs, while Mecimore had two hits and drove in a run. Willard finished 2 for 2 with two RBIs, and
Austin Wood and
Jack Brandle each added two hits.
The Falcons broke open a tight contest late, scoring three runs in the eighth inning on Mecimore's homer and Willard's two-run blast, then tacked on an insurance run in the ninth.
Pfeiffer's bullpen preserved the lead.
Josh Little earned the win with three innings of relief, allowing one run, and
Cameron Cooper closed with two scoreless innings, striking out three to secure the victory.
In the second game of the day, also an elimination game, Pfeiffer came out aggressively again but could not hold an early lead in a 19-8 loss to Pomona-Pitzer.
The Falcons erupted for five runs in the first inning, highlighted by Connor Coy's two-run double and RBI contributions from
Ben Mecimore,
Ethan Willard and
Josh Jones to take a 5-0 advantage.
Pfeiffer continued to hit throughout the game, finishing with 15 hits. Jones again paced the offense with three hits, while Coy drove in three runs and
Joe Javier reached base five times with two hits and three walks.
Pomona-Pitzer answered quickly, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first and tying the game on a solo home run in the fourth before breaking the contest open in the fifth.
The Sagehens sent 13 batters to the plate in an eight-run fifth inning, capped by Kai Gonzaga's grand slam, to take control. They added 14 runs across the fifth, sixth and eighth innings to pull away.
The loss closes a historic season for the Falcons, as they finished 26-22 overall while claiming their first USA South Championship while making the programs' first appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
