GOLDSBORO — Despite a strong combined pitching performance from Noah Pierce and Colby Barnhill, the Community Christian School baseball team came up short in a 4-2 loss to host Faith Christian of Goldsboro in the Mid-Atlantic Christian Athletic Association title game on Saturday.

The Cyclones, who finished the year 6-9, fell to the Conquerors (13-3) for the third time this season.

Faith Christian built a 3-0 lead through three innings, and, despite scratching across a run apiece in the fourth and fifth, the Cyclones couldn’t get over the hump. Pierce grabbed the start on the mound, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out six and walking four in four innings.

After Pierce walked the first two batters in the fifth inning, Barnhill came in and sandwiched a pair of strikeouts and a pop up around a walk, getting the Cyclones out of the jam.

“Noah started the game pitching for us, he did a nice job battling for us and keeping them held down to were we had a chance to win,” emailed CCS head coach Andy Jackson. “Colby Barnhill came in in a big spot for us in the fifth.”

Hunter Pittman grabbed the win for the Conquerors, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out seven and walking three in a full seven innings. He also led FCA with a 3-for-3 game at the plate.

Rylan Gay led CCS with a pair of hits.

“We played a very hard-fought game,” Jackson said. “…Offensively, we just couldn’t put any back-to-back hits together to plate many runs. I thought we competed extremely hard down the stretch of the year.”

Gay and Pierce were both named to the MACAA all-tournament team for CCS.