Bell's Walk-off Blast Sends Pfeiffer Baseball Over Methodist
Misenheimer, N.C. (April 22, 2022) – Pfeiffer University's
Alec Bell belted a solo home run in the bottom of the 10th inning to send the Falcons to a 5-4 win over league-leading Methodist University at a sunny and warm Joe Ferebee Field on Friday afternoon.
The Basics
Pfeiffer def. Methodist, 5-4 (10 innings)
Records
Pfeiffer – 14-15, 10-6 USA South
Methodist – 23-11, 13-3 USA South
Location – Misenheimer, N.C. – Joe Ferebee Field
How it Happened
Down 4-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, Pfeiffer got things started when
Cory Lackey laced a double to left center field off Monarch closer Chase Carroll.
Following a groundout from
Zach Ferrell that allowed Lackey to advance to third, a wild pitch allowed the tying run to cross the plate, knotting the game at 4-4.
In the Methodist half of the 10th inning, the Monarchs got a leadoff walk and would advance to second on a wild pitch from Pfeiffer reliever
Dakota Caughey.
Another walk placed Methodist runners at first and second with no outs. A balk then put both MU runners in scoring position. Pfeiffer then recorded the first out of the inning when
Austin Morton and Lackey teamed for a great defensive play that kept the MU runners from advancing.
Pfeiffer then intentionally walked the bases loaded to set up the potential double-play situation. Caughey did the rest, as he struck out the next two Monarch batters to get out of the jam.
In the 10th inning, designated hitter
Bryce Marsh nearly ended the game when he hit a towering fly ball to right center that was caught by MU right fielder Justin Blunt with his back to the fence.
Alec Bell then came to bat with one out and belted a 2-1 pitch high over the left field fence for his third home run of the season to end the game at 5-4.
Inside the Box Score
Pfeiffer had five players record two hits in the game in Lackey (2-of-5), Morton (2-of-4),
Jake Brown (2-of-4), Bell (2-of-4) and
Landon Evans (2-of-3).
Lackey and Brown each had doubles with Bell's home run being the only extra-base hits for the Falcons.
On the mound,
John Owen pitched six strong innings, giving up five hits while striking out five.Â
Josh Topper and
Thad Lewis also made appearances, with Topper throwing one inning and Lewis throwing a pair.
Caughey was credited with the win to improve to 5-1 on the season, as he pitched one inning and got a pair of strikeouts.
Up Next
Methodist and Pfeiffer will play the second game of their three-game set on Saturday afternoon, April 23 at 4:00 p.m. The game will mark the annual Joe Ferebee Day with numerous baseball alumni in attendance to mark the life and legacy of famed Pfeiffer baseball coach Joe Ferebee.
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