The Belmont Abbey College baseball team dropped an 8-4 decision at Mars Hill Tuesday afternoon at Henderson Field. Mars Hill improved to 19-9 overall while the Crusaders fell to 13-14 on the season.

The Lions scored the first run of the game in their first at-bat when Mike Kitt reached home on a fielder's choice. Chris Vazquez gave Belmont Abbey a 2-1 advantage after he hit a two-run home run in the top of the second frame.

Adam Lewis tied the game at 2-all in the bottom of the fourth inning when he hit a solo home run to center field. Devin Presnell gave MHC a 5-2 advantage in the fifth inning after he belted a three-run home run to left-center. Michael Bueker and Kitt reached base earlier in the inning by hitting singles.

Daniel Torrente and Justin Baxley hit back-to-back solo home runs in the top of the seventh inning to cut the Crusaders deficit to 5-4. The Lions then added three insurance runs in the bottom half of the seventh inning. Kitt doubled to plate Patrick Davidson and then Rusty Smith hit a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Dalton Hardee. Lewis then hit a line drive into right field to score Kitt. Reliever Tony Hearell set the Crusaders down in order in the top of the eighth frame and held the Crusaders at bay in the ninth inning to pick up his third save of the season.

Presnell led MHC at the plate with a home run and four RBI. Lewis also had a home run and two RBI as he went 2-4 on the day. Kitt recorded two hits, three runs scored and a double. Jonathan Bullington threw six innings to pick up the win (2-1).

Justin Baxley led Belmont Abbey with two hits, a home run and a double. Steven Thiele took the loss (1-1) for the Crusaders on the mound.