GREENWOOD, SC-The Belmont Abbey baseball team pounded out 20
hits Wednesday night to take a 9-3 non-conference victory against
Lander at Legion Field. Belmont Abbey, winners of three-straight,
improves to 21-12 overall, while Lander drops to 10-20.
The Crusaders' Evan Jonas (4-2) picked up the win as he struck
out seven and allowed three runs on five hits. Lander's Derek
Wilson (0-6) took the loss as he struck out one and allowed four
earned runs on six hits in one inning pitched.
Belmont Abbey took a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning when
Patrick Atwell, Alex Udwari and Will Breslin all singled to load
the bases. Seth Waller's RBI double down the left field line scored
Atwell and Udwari, then Breslin made it 3-0 on Josh Haire's RBI
single to center field.
Lander cut the margin to 3-1 in the bottom of the inning when
Jesse Barbaro blasted a solo home run over the right field
fence.
The Crusaders stretched the lead to 4-1 in the second when Nick
Popp singled then scored on Tyler McKenzie's double to deep right
center field. Belmont Abbey added one more run in the fifth when
Breslin doubled to centerfield, advanced to third on a ground out,
then scored on Alex Castellanos' groundout to second.
Lander made it 5-3 in the fourth. Barbaro singled to right
field, advanced to second on T.J. Guinan's single to center field
then both scored on Hunter Ruoss's double to centerfield.
Belmont Abbey took a 9-3 lead in the eighth as Breslin stroked a
two-RBI double to left field and Seth Waller belted a two-run homer
over the left field fence.
The Crusaders added their final two runs in the ninth. Kyle
Smith walked, advanced to second on Atwell's walk, to third on
McKenzie's fielder's choice and scored on Udwari's single to left
field. Udwari and McKenzie advanced to second and third
respectively on a passed ball, then McKenzie scored on a wild
pitch.
For Lander, Barbaro went 3-for-4 and McLeod went 2-for-4.
For Belmont Abbey, Waller went 2-for-4 with one homer and one
double, Breslin went 4-for-5 with two doubles and McKenzie went
3-for-6 with one double.