The Belmont Abbey baseball team split its Conference Carolinas
doubleheader opener against visiting Anderson University this
afternoon at Abbey Yard, taking the first game 8-4 and falling 3-2
in the second game. The Abbey is now 5-6 overall and 1-1 in
Conference Carolinas, while the Trojans are now 3-9 overall and 1-1
in conference play.
In game one, the Trojans scored three unanswered runs, plating
two in the first and one more in the third to build a 3-0 lead, but
the Abbey cut the lead to 3-2 in its half of the third, as Will
Breslin ripped a one out single to right center, scoring Tyler
McKenzie and Patrick Atwell.
Two innings later, Breslin gave the Crusaders the lead for good
when he blasted a two run homer to right center, scoring Carlos
Vasquez, who led off the frame with a double to left.
The Abbey tacked on another run in the sixth as Atwell scored on a
wild pitch to extend the lead to 5-3.
Anderson responded with a run in the seventh, scoring on a
groundout, to cut the lead to 5-4, but Breslin again answered for
the Abbey, ripping a two run double as part of a three run Crusader
eighth to extend their lead to 8-4, which was the final.
Breslin finished the game 3-5, falling just a triple shy of the
cycle, while driving in six runs. Andy Helms earned the win after
allowing four runs on eight hits in six and one-thirds innings,
striking out three. Andrew Morton earned the save after working the
final two and two-thirds innings. He did not allow a run on one hit
while striking out one. Chris Pitts took the loss after yielding
seven runs on 11 hits in seven and two-thirds innings of work. He
struck out three.
In the game two, which lasted seven innings, the two teams were
scoreless until the third inning when Anderson's Matt Hill blasted
a solo homer down the leftfield line for a 1-0 Trojan lead.
The Trojans added one more in the fourth as they scored on a
wild pitch and another in the sixth to open a 3-0 lead, but Breslin
again put the Abbey back in the game with a two run homer in the
bottom of the sixth to trim the lead to 3-2. McKenzie was hit by a
pitch to open the inning, moved to third on a groundout and scored
on Breslin's shot that just stayed in fair territory.
The Crusaders threatened in the bottom of the seventh as they
had runners on first and second with two outs, but the threat and
the game ended on a groundout.
Luis Martinez earned the win for the Trojans, as he allowed two
runs on five hits in a complete game effort. He struck out four and
walked a pair. Michael Raymond took the loss after allowing two
runs, one earned, one one hit in three and one-thirds innings.
The series finale gets underway tomorrow afternoon at 1:00.
Game One Box
Game Two Box
