Pippins Offense Struggles in Loss to Falcons

The Pippins could not overcome a four run fourth inning from the Falcons as they fell 7-1 in the first game of the three game series.

After a 1-2-3 first inning from Pippins starter Mason Wells, he ran into trouble in the second inning. After a walk and a single, Matt Voelzke doubled to drive in the first run of the game. Jake Fischer followed with a double down the right field line, scoring two more runs. Later in the inning, a ground ball fielder's choice hit by Tylor Nixon drove in the final run of the inning, staking the Falcons to a 4-0 lead.

After the second inning, Wells was able to hunker down and proceeded to throw three scoreless innings, stranding runners in two of those innings.

On the offensive side, the Pippins struggled to get anything going against Falcons starter James Brooks. In the first and third innings, the Pippins stranded runners in scoring position. They wouldn't get another real scoring opportunity until the sixth. Brooks went five scoreless innings, giving up just four hits while striking out five.

In the sixth, the Pippins were able to get on the board. A leadoff walk followed by a base hit set up an RBI single from Kyle Dean. It was Dean's first base hit and RBI as a Pippin. That run was all that the Pippins would be able to muster.

The Falcons played add on in the seventh while recording just one base hit. Cole Jones came in in relief and struggled to find the zone. Jones loaded the bases with two walks and a single by Grant Suponchick. Trent Tinglestad would follow with a bases loaded walk, driving in a run. Ryan Fish followed and was hit by a pitch, driving in another run. A fielder's choice ground ball hit by Nixon would bring in the final run of the game.

With a sizeable lead, Bradley Stookey threw two scoreless innings to shut the door on the Pippins. With the loss, the Pippins fell back to .500 on the season at 8-8.

Game two of the series is on Saturday. First pitch at 6:35.