SUMTER, S.C. – After gaining a split on Friday against the host USC Sumter Fire Ants in a Region X doubleheader, the Louisburg Hurricanes dropped both ends of a twinbill on Saturday to the Fire Ants.

Game 1

On Saturday, Hurricanes head coach Blake Herring gave sophomore righty Jason Parker the nod for the front end of the doubleheader.

Parker responded, and allowed just two runs, both unearned, while going six innings in a complete game effort. Parker, who hails from New Bern, North Carolina, and attended West Craven High School, struck out nine batters while walking only two. He allowed three hits and no earned runs on the afternoon.

Unfortunately, the USC Sumter pitching trio of Jack Webb, Sam Hunt, and JD Burrows silenced the Hurricanes' bats and allowed just four total hits. Webb carried the load for the Fire Ants, earning the win while pitching five innings, yielding one run, walking three, and striking out five. The only time Louisburg got to Webb was in the third when outfielder Aaron Beach sent an offering over the leftfield fence. Zacchaeus Rasberry, Brian Kahn, and Vinney Bailey had the other three hits for the Hurricanes.

USC Sumter's JD Burrows pitched the final two innings for the save. Parker took the loss for the Hurricanes and is now 4-2 on the year.

Game 2

Louisburg's bats heated up in the second game as they compiled eleven hits but again fell short of the Fire Ants, this time by an 8-5 final score.

The Hurricanes immediately went to work on USC Sumter pitcher Daniel Twitty, driving across two runs in the top of the first. DH Josh Baker, who batted cleanup and had two hits for Louisburg, hit a line drive double to right field to score Kahn. Catcher Derek Neal then drove in Kahn with a single to centerfield. After one inning, Louisburg led 2-0.

Over the next three, the Hurricanes couldn't push across a run, while the Fire Ants (21-14) scored one in the second, five in the third, and another in the fourth.

Louisburg was able to score three in the final three innings, but USC Sumter added a run in the sixth and held on for the three-run victory.

Twitty (1-0) worked six innings to earn the win, while Louisburg starter Tucker Rogers was saddled with the loss and is now 2-3 on the season. Rogers pitched three innings, yielding six earned runs before he was spelled by Ethan Meece for the final three. Meece allowed three hits, one run, and struck out two for Louisburg.

Good news at the plate for the Hurricanes (21-14-0) included three hits from Kahn, and two hits apiece from Baker and first baseman Darius Nobles. Rasberry, Bailey, and Seth Johnson also had hits for the Hurricanes.

Next Up: On Wednesday, April 4, the Hurricanes travel to Pitt Community College (17-9-1)in Greenville for a 6:00 p.m. start. Louisburg is 3-0 this year over the Bulldogs to date.