TIFTON, Ga. - Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College showed why they are worthy of NAIA national contention Friday by splitting baseball games with No. 9 Loyola.

ABAC, receiving votes in the initial regular season NAIA Poll, won the first game with the Wolf Pack, 8-2, before falling in a pitcher's duel, 4-2, in the nightcap.

The teams are scheduled to wrap the series at 1 p.m. Saturday at ABAC's field.

GAME 1

ABAC put a 5-spot on the scoreboard in the 2nd inning and coasted from there.

Joseph Cooney was the first runner across the place, scoring on Parker Wallace's double. Zack Bowman followed with a single to drive in Tre'von Lee to make it 2-0.

With Trace Hodges (courtesy running for Wallace) and Bowman aboard, Quinten Rawls launched a three-run homer to left field.

The Wolf Pack scored a run in the 3rd, but the Stallions answered that and more in the 4th.

Lee led off with a single, moving up a base when Bowman walked. When Rawls forced an infield error, Lee scored. Cameron Campbell hit a sacrifice fly to right to plate Bowman and it was a 7-1 lead.

Loyola's other run scored in the 5th.

Rawls singled in the Bowman in the 6th to cap ABAC scoring.

Reigh Jordan picked up his 4th win of the season with a 6-inning performance. Only one run was earned. Jordan fanned 2. Hodges worked a 1-2-3 7th.

Rawls went for 2-for-4 in the first game, with 4 RBIs. Bowman also had 2 hits.

GAME 2

A brief weather delay gave the Stallions a second chance as Loyola starting pitcher Brady Bowen had been nearly untouchable. In 4 innings of work before the delay, Bowen only allowed 2 hits and had struck out 5.

In those frames, the Pack scored single runs in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th, then added on one more single run in the 6th to go ahead 4-0.

Bowen's replacement, Frank Fernandez, was nearly as tough on the hill, but the Stallions were able to get to him in the 6th for a pair of runs.

Cameron Campbell and Dylan Davis reached with a walk and a single, respectively, then Kam Taylor walked to load the bases with no outs.

Loyola got two outs without damage, but Tre'von Lee doubled into the left field corner to score two. Taylor tripped up rounding third and was thrown out at the plate to end any further ally.

Fernandez and closer Jake Cohen held the Stallions to only a single baserunner over the last three innings to hold on.

ABAC was held to 4 hits; Lee's was the only one that went for extra bases.

Kade Haywood threw 5 frames, giving up 3 earned runs and striking out 3. Drew Hurst went the last 4, also striking out 3. Hurst allowed one earned run.