MISENHEIMER, N.C. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team was edged by Pfeiffer, 4-2, on this afternoon at Joe Ferebee Field.

The Engineers plated single runs in the first and fourth innings, but a four-run Pfeiffer fourth proved to be the difference.

RPI struck first right away in the top of the opening frame. Cam Hawley worked a leadoff walk and moved into scoring position on a passed ball before Connor Dynan laid down a sacrifice bunt to push him to third. After Charlie Lapp was hit by a pitch, Matt Chotiner delivered a two-out RBI single to bring Hawley home for a 1-0 lead.

Pfeiffer answered in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of two infield miscues to load the bases and spark the rally. The Falcons tied the game on an RBI single, then pulled ahead on a two-run double before adding another RBI single to make it 4-2.

The Engineers briefly climbed back within striking distance in the top of the fourth. Owen Burnsworth was hit by a pitch and moved up on Charlie Morse's sacrifice bunt, and Robbie Reddington followed with an RBI single to right to score Burnsworth and cut the margin to 4-2.

RPI threatened for more in the sixth when Morse ripped a two-out double down the left-field line, but Pfeiffer's bullpen held the Engineers off the board the rest of the way.

Chotiner led the RPI offense with a 3-for-4 afternoon and the RBI in the first inning, while Morse went 1-for-2 with a walk, a double, and a stolen base. Reddington added the run-scoring single in the fourth, and Hawley scored the game's first run after reaching on the leadoff walk.

Julian Fong-McAdams struck out two in a scoreless opening inning before Andrew Crux took over and was charged with the loss despite allowing no earned runs. Andrew Gaughan delivered 2.2 scoreless innings of relief with four strikeouts, and Sam Kuss worked a clean inning late to keep the Engineers within reach.

RPI and the Falcons square off again in a doubleheader  tomorrow, with first pitch set for 1:00 pm.