Rocky Mount, N.C. - N.C. Wesleyan opened its conference series with a hard-fought 2-0 loss to Pfeiffer on Friday evening in Rocky Mount, despite a strong pitching performance and steady offensive pressure throughout the game. The Battling Bishops totaled nine hits and had multiple scoring opportunities but were unable to break through against Pfeiffer's complete-game effort.
Wesleyan threatened early, putting runners on in each of the first three innings, including a first-inning opportunity with runners at second and third. The Bishops continued to apply pressure in the middle innings, highlighted by back-to-back hits from Jake Flowers and Matthew Hannah in the fourth, but were unable to push a run across. Schumata Brown and Maison Nance each recorded multiple hits, while Banks Hartman, Brady Williams, and Hannah added extra-base hits as Wesleyan consistently put runners in scoring position.
On the mound, Colby Lewis delivered an impressive outing, going 8.2 innings while allowing just two runs on five hits and striking out 10. He kept the Bishops within striking distance throughout, surrendering a lone run in the fourth before Pfeiffer added an insurance run in the ninth. Drake Hobgood recorded the final out as Wesleyan looked to rally in the bottom half.
The Bishops mounted one final threat in the ninth, as Brady Williams doubled and advanced to third, but were unable to bring him home as Pfeiffer held on to secure the win in game one of the series.
