MISENHEIMER, N.C. -- The Allegheny College baseball team was swept after losing a pair of high-scoring contests to Pfeiffer University on Friday afternoon at Joe Ferebee Field by scores of 14-12 and 14-10.

Despite scoring a combined 22 runs, the Gators (4-5) surrendered two late leads, as the pitching staff suffered heavily against the Falcons (6-4) throughout the doubleheader. In total, the Blue and Gold allowed 28 runs, but Pfeiffer scored 16 of those in the seventh inning or later to come from behind.

Pfeiffer 14, Allegheny 12
The offenses were quiet in the first three innings before Allegheny got the scoring going in the fourth. Brady Nolin (Cumberland, Maine/Greely) and JD Robinson (Round Hill, Va./Woodgrove) both scored on a throwing error from the Falcons' catcher.

Adding to their totals in the fifth, the Gators scored another trio of runs, highlighted by an RBI single from Matt Jennings (Birmingham, Mich./Brother Rice) and an RBI double from William Wolff (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast). That extended Allegheny's lead to 5-0.

In the bottom of the inning, the Birds hit back and tied the game, and in the sixth, Pfeiffer took its first lead of the game off an RBI triple by third baseman C.J. Acosta.

Allegheny responded in the seventh and put up a five-spot of its own. Jennings scored on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to Tyler Skaggs (Champion Heights, Ohio/Champion) to tie the game at 6-all. Anthony Maslo (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) then smashed a bases-clearing double to right-center field and came around to score on an error to put the Gators up by four, 10-6.

The Gators added two more in the eighth before the wheels fell off in the bottom of the inning. 

Pfieffer scored eight runs on five hits to take the lead in the eighth. Four arms came out of the bullpen in an attempt to halt the rally. The dagger came on a two-out, three-run double from Pfeiffer's first baseman, turning Allegheny's 12-11 lead into a two-run deficit.

Pfeiffer 14, Allegheny 10
Looking to rebound, Allegheny struck first in the first with an RBI double from Jennings. The bats then fell silent until late innings, which allowed the Falcons to jump ahead 6-1.

Trailing by five, Allegheny found new life and scored six runs in the seventh frame to take back the lead. Tommaso Floro (Sewickley, Pa./Quaker Valley) started the rally with a line-drive home run over the left-center field wall.

Three batters later, the bases were loaded for Grant Dowden (Ligonier, Pa./Ligonier Valley), who hit a single into the outfield to plate another Gator. Tyson Bryant-Dawson (Oakland, Calif./Manvel (Texas)), Jennings, and Nolin also picked up RBIs in the inning, and the Gators had momentum and a 7-6 advantage.

The bottom of the seventh began with an Allegheny error, which extended the inning long enough for Pfeiffer to score five two-out runs.

Both teams traded a trio of runs in the eighth inning. In the top half, the Gators loaded the bases. A full-count walk to Dowden and a passed ball allowed Allegheny to come within a run of the Falcons at 11-10. Although the Gators had two runners in scoring position, both were stranded following back-to-back strikeouts. The Falcons matched Allegheny's three runs in the bottom of the eighth for a bit of insurance, sealing the win in the nightcap.

Inside the Box Score - Game 1

• The Gators produced 12 runs on 11 hits, while the Falcons scored 14 on 15 hits.
• Allegheny only committed one error as compared to the four by Pfeiffer.
• Starting pitcher Walker Cunningham (Cambridge Springs, Pa./Cambridge Springs) lasted 4.2 innings and allowed five runs with four strikeouts.
• Out of the bullpen, John Doney (Tampa, Fla./Tampa Prep) tossed 1.1 innings, which was the most of the five relievers utilized.
• Jennings finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored.
• Nolin was 2-for-4 and scored thrice.
• Maslo and Wolff led the team with a combined five RBIs.

Inside the Box Score - Game 2

• Allegheny scored 10 runs on seven hits and eight walks.
• The Falcons scored 14 runs on 11 hits, including four extra-base knocks.
• Alejandro Samayoa (Katonah, N.Y./John Jay Cross River) was the only Gator with multiple hits, going 2-for-5 with two runs.
• Off the bench, Floro hit a home run with two walks, two runs, and one RBI.
• Starting pitcher Brent Herrmann (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) struck out eight and allowed only three earned runs in 6.0 innings.
• Six relievers were used to finish the game following Herrmann's exit.

News and Notes

• Friday's games were the first-ever between Allegheny and Pfeiffer, a former Division II institution that reclassified to Division III seven years ago.
• Despite the two losses, Allegheny has scored double-digit runs in three consecutive games.
• Floro's home run marked the first of his collegiate career.
• Jennings extended his on-base streak to nine consecutive games, while Nolin has reached base safely in seven straight.

Up Next
With the series finale against Pfeiffer canceled due to expected weather, the Gators will head home. Their next game will be in a twin bill against the University of Rochester on Saturday, March 16, beginning at noon.