Score: Pfeiffer University 5, Elmira College 3
Records: Pfeiffer (5-3), Elmira (0-4)
Location: Misenheimer, N.C. -- Joe Ferebee Field

MISENHEIMER, N.C. -- An eighth-inning grand slam of the bat off Pfeiffer University's Kirby Lambert proved to be the difference on Thursday night, as the Falcons spoiled Elmira College's late lead and handed the visiting Soaring Eagles a 5-3 loss at Joe Ferebee Field.

Andy Reed '19 started on the mound for the Soaring Eagles and hurled 7.0 strong innings in his first start of the season. The left-hander from Fairport, New York, allowed just one run on five hits, no walks, and three strikeouts. He exited the game with the Soaring Eagles clinging to a 2-1 lead, but the bullpen was unable to finish the final two innings of the evening.

The Soaring Eagles took the lead in the top of the fourth. With runners on the corners, Cameron Heggie '18 looped a soft line drive back up the middle and just out of reach of the Pfeiffer shortstop. That allowed Conor Bawiec '18, who led off the frame with a walk, to trot home with ease. With two outs in the inning, Nick Sampogna '18 doubled Elmira's lead to 2-0, as he reached home on an infield grounder that Falcons starter Willis Carter was able to handle while covering first base.

Pfeiffer, a former Division II program in its first season transitioning to Division III, cut the lead in half, 2-1, on a Christian Marciano RBI double in the bottom of the inning, and that slim advantage would hold up for EC until the eighth inning. The Falcons loaded the bases with a double, walk and bunt single, and despite initially falling behind 0-2 in the count, Lambert unloaded the bases with a grand slam.

Joe Kidd '18, the third Elmira reliever of the inning, shut the door by retiring the three batters he faced to end the eighth.

Trailing 5-2, Jansen Crossley '20 entered off the bench and was walked. He moved up to second on a groundout, took third on a wild pitch and scored a two-out run on a passed ball. However, Crossley's run was the only one the Soaring Eagles could push across in the ninth inning against Pfeiffer closer Xavier Rodriguez.

News and Notes

• Elmira dropped to 0-4 on its season-opening road trip.
• EC's three hits were a season-low, but the Soaring Eagles tied their previous best with five walks.
• The Soaring Eagles have stolen a base in all four games so far in 2018.
• Although he didn't record a hit, Dennis Rudolph '18 extended his on-base streak to four games with a hit by pitch.
• Bawiec also finished hitless but lengthened his impressive on-base streak to 32 in a row with a walk.
• Joey Florio '20 tied a career high with two hits.
• Reed made his first start on the mound since April 8, 2017, and his 7.0 innings of work marked his longest outing since the last start of his freshman year on May 7, 2016.

Up Next
Elmira will remain in the Tar Heel State for a 2:30 p.m. game against Guilford College on Friday, February 23, in Greensboro, North Carolina.