The Belmont Abbey baseball team split a Conference Carolinas double header Saturday afternoon at Erskine losing game one 11-6 and taking game two 6-5 in extra innings to avoid a sweep.

In game one, the Erskine would take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after Luke Danielewicz led off with a double and later scored on a ground out by Bryan Fogle. The Crusaders would answer back in the top of the second with three runs. Tim Dye had an RBI single and then Josh Frazier hit a two run double to make it a 3-1 game. Matt Youngblood would hit a solo home run in the bottom of the inning to make it a one run game, but Danny Brion would add a solo home run in the third to push the Crusader lead to 4-2. Trailing 4-3 in going into the fifth inning, the Fleet would take the lead on a double by Fogle to score Danielewicz and Chas Anthony. Erskine would add two more runs in the sixth and four in the eighth to take the 11-6 victory.

Danielewicz was 3-4 with a double and RBI, while Fogle was 2-4 with a double, home run and six runs driven in to lead the Fleet at the plate. Russell Reid (6-2) picked up the win allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits in 6.1 innings and striking out seven, while Altee Pearson picked up his eighth save of the season allowing one unearned run in 2.2 innings pitched and striking out six.

Roland Rodriguez was 2-3 with a double and run scored for Belmont Abbey, while Brion finished the game 2-4 with a home run and RBI. Frazier finished the game 1-3 with two runs driven in. Nate Cudney took the loss allowing five runs on six hits in 4.1 innings pitched while striking out four.

In game two, the Fleet would take a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Mo Seay was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and later scored on a single from Danielewicz. The Crusaders would take advantage of three Erskine walks and an error in the third to take a 4-1 lead. The big blow for Belmont Abbey was a bases loaded double by Dye to clear the bases. Erskine would make it a one run game in the third on back to back RBI singles from Seay and Brandon Garrett.

The next inning, the Fleet would tie the game when Danielewicz led off the inning with a home run and then after a single by Fogle, John Bolding would double to give Erskine the lead. Dye would lead the fifth inning off with a double and then score on a single by Justin Baxley to tie the game at five. The score would remain tied into the eighth inning, when Baxley led off with a walk and then later scored on a double by Rodriguez to give the Crusaders the lead and they would hold on for the victory.

Danielewicz once again led Erskine at the plate going 4-5 with a home run, while Bolding was 3-4 with two doubles and an RBI. Pearson (1-1) took the loss allowing one run on three hits in 3.2 innings while striking out five.

Dye led Belmont Abbey at the plate going 3-4 with three doubles and three runs driven in, while Brion, Baxley and Rodriguez each had a hit apiece. Jordan Cudney (2-3) picked up the win allowing no runs in just three hits in 4.1 innings of relief work.