The Belmont Abbey baseball team erased a 3-1 Mount Olive lead by scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh-all with two outs, as the Crusaders took game one of a Conference Carolinas baseball series with a 4-3 win over the visiting Trojans this afternoon at Abbey Yard. The Abbey extends its winning streak to five as it improves to 19-15 overall and remains atop the Conference Carolinas standings with a 10-4 mark, while the Trojans fall to 19-15 overall and 5-5 in Conference Carolinas.

Belmont Abbey starting pitcher Tyler Powell earned the win after holding Mount Olive to three runs, two earned, on seven hits in seven and one-thirds innings. He struck out seven and walked two. Ryan Williams took the loss after allowing one run on two hits in an inning and one-third of relief, striking out one. Zach Horne earned the save after retiring every batter he faced in the final inning and two-thirds, striking out one.

The Abbey grabbed the early lead in the bottom of the second on a solo homer by Chris Vazquez, but the Trojans responded with two runs in the top of the third, getting an RBI double by Jesse Lancaster and a run-scoring single by Rich Racobaldo to give the Trojans a 2-1 lead. Mount Olive extended its lead to 3-1 with an RBI single by Airlon Vinson, scoring Dylan Holton, who led off the frame reaching on an error.

That was all of the scoring until the seventh when the Abbey grabbed the lead for good by scoring three runs with two outs. After a Carlos Vasquez leadoff popout, Josh Frazier reached on a walk, followed by a strikeout by Roland Rodriguez. After a Frazier steal of second base and a walk to Patrick Atwell forced a pitching change, Tyler McKenzie singled to left to load the bases for Kassouf, who drove all three men in with a double for what turned out to be the final runs of the game.

Mount Olive finished with seven hits as Vinson led the way with a pair. The Abbey finished with five as McKenzie posted two. Kassouf led all players with three runs batted in.