PEMBROKE — The mood was somber at Sammy Cox Field following The University of North Carolina at Pembroke’s 10-6 Peach Belt Conference loss to Armstrong Atlantic State on Monday.

After splitting a doubleheader with the Pirates on Sunday, the Braves saw a golden opportunity of clinching the series slip through their fingers in the eighth and ninth innings via bullpen problems.

UNCP (22-13, 4-10 PBC) head coach Paul O’Neil sat in the Braves’ dugout after the disappointing defeat, trying to formulate an answer as to why his team has failed to win a conference series this season in five attempts.

“I don’t have a crystal ball. I have no idea what’s going on with us right now,” O’Neil said. “At the college level, you got to be able to do the little things to win. That’s baseball and we’re not doing those things.”

Armstrong Atlantic State’s (26-9, 6-6 PBC) John Roberts broke a 4-4 tie in the eighth a three-run homer to left field off Rudy Brown, giving his team a lead it would never relinquish.

Edmund Locklear’s two-run double brought the Braves back to within two runs at 7-6 in the bottom of the eighth, but the Pirates countered with three in the ninth off Tyler Wood to clinch the series.

“We did a good job of fighting back to get within a run,” O’Neil said. “But, give Armstrong Atlantic credit for scoring those three in the ninth. That takes a lot of pressure off their pitching staff.”

Brown allowed three runs on three hits after replacing Jonathan Rivera with two outs in the seventh. Tyler Wood spelled Brown following Roberts’ homer, but was ineffective as he gave up a trio of runs in the top of the ninth.

Armstrong Atlantic State closer Ryan Smith (4-0) earned the victory despite allowing a pair of runs off Locklear's extra-base hit in the eighth. Smith set the Braves down in order in the ninth.

The Pirates mashed eight homeruns in the series after notching just 14 long balls all season heading into Pembroke. Roberts and Drew Carnes each homered twice in the series.

“We can’t seem to catch a break here at our ballpark,” O’Neil said. “Whether it’s a disputed call from the umpires or one bad pitch that leads to a homerun, we haven’t seen a break go our way all year.”

Kevin Dietrich sent one over the wall and drove in three runs to lead UNCP’s offensive charge, upping his average to .391. Dietrich now leads the team in RBIs with 44.

UNCP will look to rebound Wednesday with a home battle with Lenoir Rhyne at 3 p.m. The Braves are 16-7 at home this season, including a 14-3 mark against non-conference foes.