The Belmont Abbey baseball team rapped out 17 hits as it won at Mars Hill 12-2 this afternoon to even its record at 9-9.

Belmont Abbey scored two runs in the top of the first inning to grab the early lead. Justin Vasquez singled through the right side, plating Danny Brion and Tyler McKenzie.

The Crusaders got three runs in each of the second and third innings. Leading 3-0, McKenzie hit a two-run homer to right center field. The home run was McKenzie's second of the season.

Daniel Kassouf led off the top of the third inning with a homer to center field. The home run was Kassouf's eighth of the season. Later in the inning, a Roland Rodriguez single to center field scored Patrick Atwell and gave the Crusaders an 8-0 advantage.

Belmont Abbey scored another two runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings. Justin Vasquez doubled to left center, plating Carlos Vasquez and Kassouf to give the Crusaders a 10-0 lead. In the fifth inning, Carlos Vasquez singled through the right side, scoring Justin Vasquez and Brion.

Mars Hill got on the board in the bottom of the ninth inning with a one out, two-run homer over the right field fence by Patrick Davidson. Matt Oleski also scored on the play to cut the deficit to 12-2, but strikeouts by Kris Torrence and Devin Presnell ended the game.

Michael Maples now 2-1, picked up the win for Belmont Abbey. He pitched five innings of three hit ball and allowed no runs.

Tyler Stephenson now 0-1, dropped the decision for Mars Hill. He surrendered six earned runs on six hits in only two and one-third innings pitched.