Louisburg College's baseball team had a tough three-game series against Pitt Community College, dropping all three games in a hard-fought but ultimately disappointing series. Despite some strong individual performances, the Hurricanes were unable to secure a win, falling 4-3, 2-0, and 8-7 over the weekend.

Game 1: Extra-Inning Heartbreaker

The first game of the series was an extra-inning affair, where Louisburg College put up a fight but came up short in a 4-3 loss. The game remained scoreless through the first seven innings, with Louisburg's pitching staff led by Casey Culbreth keeping Pitt off the scoreboard. However, in the eighth inning, the Bulldogs broke through, scoring three runs to take a 3-0 lead.

Louisburg battled back in the top of the ninth, scoring two runs on an RBI single from Anthony Jones and a sacrifice fly from Colin Cusick, tying the game at 3-3. But in the bottom of the 11th inning, Pitt pushed across the winning run to secure the victory. Despite the loss, Louisburg's Stephen Kriner stood out, going 2-for-5 with a triple and an RBI.

Louisburg's pitching was solid, with Culbreth allowing just three earned runs in five innings. Harrison Lombardi and Ben Blondino followed, but Pitt's bullpen outlasted them, and the Hurricanes could not muster a rally in the later innings.

Game 2: Offensive Struggles

The second game of the series was a much quieter affair, as Louisburg College was shut out 2-0. Pitt jumped on the board in the third inning, scoring two runs, which would ultimately be enough. The Hurricanes could not generate any offensive momentum, collecting just three hits in the game.

Louisburg's Maddox Cabbage gave a solid performance on the mound, allowing just one earned run in 3.1 innings of relief, but it wasn't enough to overcome the offensive drought. The lone bright spot for Louisburg was Evan Slawinski, who went 1-for-3 with a double.

Pitt's Luke Lambert earned the win, allowing just three hits and striking out six over 5.1 innings, while Ryan Johnson earned the save, shutting the door with 1.2 scoreless innings.

Game 3: Near Miss in Final Game

In the series finale, Louisburg College fought valiantly but came up short once again, losing 8-7 in a back-and-forth contest. Pitt jumped out to an early 5-1 lead after three innings, with a pair of two-run frames in the second and third innings. Louisburg responded, clawing back with two runs in the third and another pair in the fifth to cut the deficit to 7-5.

The Hurricanes had a chance in the ninth, scoring two more runs and putting the game-tying run on third, but were ultimately unable to complete the comeback. Anthony Jones and Stephen Kriner both homered for Louisburg, with Jones driving in two runs and Kriner adding a solo shot.

Louisburg's pitching staff struggled with consistency in Game 3. Layton Babb started on the mound but was tagged for four runs in two innings, while relievers Jackson Gause and Garrison Wight allowed a combined four earned runs. Despite the loss, Louisburg's offense showed resilience, with Kriner leading the charge with a 2-for-5 performance, including his third home run of the season.

Looking Ahead

The series sweep by Pitt Community College drops Louisburg College's record to 2-4 on the season. The Hurricanes will need to regroup quickly, focusing on consistency both at the plate and on the mound as they prepare for their next series.

Despite the losses, standout performances from players like Kriner, Jones, and Slawinski demonstrate the talent within the team. With a few adjustments, the Hurricanes are confident they can turn things around as the season progresses.

Louisburg College will look to bounce back next week, continuing to build chemistry and sharpening their skills as they fight for their first conference win.