Belmont Abbey scored single runs in second, fifth and sixth and held off a late Pfeiffer rally as the Crusaders earned a two-games-to-one series win over Pfeiffer with a 3-1 win this afternoon at Abbey Yard. The Crusaders improve to 13-8 overall and 6-3 in Conference Carolinas, while the Falcons drop to 12-11 overall and 4-5 in Conference Carolinas.

Tyler Powell earned the win after holding Pfeiffer to one run on just three hits while striking out a pair and walking one in eight innings. He threw 108 pitches, 66 for strikes. Trey Summerlin earned the save after working a scoreless ninth. Nick Fogleman took the loss after allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits in five and two-thirds innings. He walked four and struck out a pair.

The Crusaders scored an unearned run in the second to claim a lead they would never lose. Carlos Vasquez drew a one out walk, and moved to third on a double by Spencer Sobol. After he stopped at third, Pfeiffer bobbled the throw in from the outfield, allowing Vasquez to score without a throw.

The lead increased to 2-0 in the fifth as Patrick Atwell blooped a two-out double to right center, scoring Derek Swilley, who reached on a single to left and then stole second.

An inning later, the Abbey widened its lead to 3-0 as Swilley singled home Vasquez, who reached on a one out single.

Pfeiffer scored its run in the seventh on an RBI groundout by Shawn Coke, scoring Bryan Braxton, but Powell and Summerlin held the Falcons scoreless for the rest of the game.

The Abbey finished with eight hits as Vasquez went 3-3 with two runs scored, while Swilley was 2-4 with an RBI. The Falcons finished with five hits as Coke led the way with four.