The Belmont Abbey baseball team earned a doubleheader sweep over
the visiting Saint Andrews Presbyterian Knights this afternoon, as
it took game one 7-5 after trailing the 5-1 in the bottom of the
seventh, and last, inning, and earning a 12-1 victory in game two.
The Abbey moves to 3-4 overall and 2-0 in Conference Carolinas,
while the Knights fall to 0-6 overall and 0-2 in Conference
Carolinas.
In game one, the Abbey trailed 5-1 heading into the bottom of
the seventh, but scored six times, the last three coming on a
walk-off home run by sophomore designated hitter Danny Brion.
Roland Rodriguez started the rally with a one out single, followed
by a walk to Justin Baxley. After a pitching change, Chris Vazquez
was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Ryan Ronda, who drew a
walk. After another pitching change, Justin Vasquez drew a walk
that plated Baxley to pull the Crusaders to within two at 5-3.
Spencer Sobol cut the margin to one with a deep flyout to left
center field that brought home Vazquez, and Brion followed with a
three-run, walk off blast to centerfield for the final runs.
The Knights scored the first four runs of the game, getting one
in the first and three more in the second. The Abbey got one back
in the fifth on a double by Rodriguez that plated Tim Dye. The
Knights matched it one inning later to move its lead to 5-1 but the
Abbey's six run seventh inning was the difference.
Jordan Cudney earned the win after allowing five runs, two
earned, on seven hits in a complete game effort. He struck out five
and walked three. Kyle Schneider took the loss after giving up the
final two runs in a third of an inning.
The nightcap was all Belmont Abbey as it jumped ahead with one
in the first and four more in the second and third to open up a 9-0
lead. It added one more in the fourth and two more in the fifth,
coming on a two-run shot by Dye.
Starting pitcher Tyler Powell made the lead stand up, as he
retired the first 14 batters he faced before allowing a bloop
single in the fifth inning. He allowed just one run on four hits
while striking out nine in a complete game effort. David Carbonnell
took the loss after he allowed seven runs, six earned, on four hits
in two innings. He struck out four and walked six.
