The College of The Albemarle sent six pitchers to the mound at Pitt Community College Wednesday afternoon in an attempt throw the nation’s sixth-ranked Division I junior college team off stride.

It nearly worked.

The Dolphins limited Pitt to seven hits and actually led briefly in the game before dropping a 3-1 decision in Greenville.

COA, which managed five hits, fell to 9-5 on the season. Pitt is 18-1.

“I told the kids that this shows we’re not that far away,” Dolphins coach Norbie Wilson said. “If we can play the No. 6 team in the country to 3-1 at their place, we can play with anybody.”

The College of the Albemarle will get another crack at Pitt on Mar. 24, this time at home.

The game was scoreless until the fourth inning. The Dolphins pushed across their run in the top half of the inning when Jake Stone walked, stole second and came home on a single up the middle by Eddie Perkins.

But Pitt tied it in the bottom of the inning, scored another run in the sixth and plated an unearned insurance run in the seventh.

Gavin Mizelle, Chad Gurganus, Ross Jarzynka, Brandon Thomas, Robert Jacot and Kirk Higgins did the pitching for COA.

Perkins led the Dolphins with two hits. Mizelle, Kyle Carlson and Stone had the other hits.