The Belmont Abbey baseball team was defeated in both game of a
seven-inning doubleheader at Carson-Newman this afternoon, falling
in the opener 16-14 in a slugfest and dropping game two 10-3.
Carson-Newman moves to 27-11, while the Abbey falls to 14-20.
In the opener, Eagles freshman Ryan Fillers allowed just one hit
over the final inning and a third to close the door on Belmont
Abbey's rally from a 10-run deficit as the Eagles won game one,
16-14.
C-N led 15-3 after four innings, but the Crusaders rallied to
within two runs after plating five runs in the fifth inning and six
more in the sixth.
The Crusaders cut the score to the game's final score and loaded
bases in the sixth, but Fillers recorded the final out in the jam
after knocking down a line drive by Roberto Sanchez back up the box
and flipping to Eagle first baseman Derek Long to end the
threat.
The C-N offense amassed nine extra-base hits, including three by
shortstop Mills Rogers as C-N built its big lead.
Belmont Abbey built a 3-0 lead in the top of the first behind a
leadoff home run by Sanchez and a two-run shot from Daniel
Torrente, but the Eagles quickly answered.
C-N scored seven runs in the bottom half of the first,
highlighted by two-run home runs by Rogers and Corey Lamson. Rogers
finished the game 4-for-4 with five RBIs and three runs scored.
Lamson added three RBIs in the game.
The Eagles would add five runs in the third as Rogers and Long
each had RBI doubles in the innings.
The Crusaders would climb back into the game behind a 4-for-5
day by Roland Rodriguez. He finished with three doubles and three
runs scored.
Third baseman Wesley Dozier added four hits including an RBI
single and a double as a part of the seven-run first inning.
C-N finished the game with 16 hits. The Crusaders outhit the
Eagles, 20-16, but could not climb out of the 12-run hole.
In game two, Eagle starting pitcher D.J. Ferguson tossed four
innings of one-hit ball and Mills Rogers and Corey Lamson each hit
their second home runs of the day as Carson-Newman rolled to a 10-3
win in game two.
Ferguson struck out four in four innings of work, allowing only
a solo home run to Crusaders' left fielder Spencer Sobol. Sanchez
drove in the other two Abbey runs with a single to left in the
fifth.
C-N plated multiple runs in each of the first four innings to
put the game out of reach.
Designated hitter Jeff Lockwood went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI
singles, including a first inning drive to left field that scored
Evan Patterson to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Dozier would also add
an RBI single in the inning as C-N took a 2-0 lead.
Rogers would build the Eagles' lead to 5-1 in the second with a
towering three-run home run to left field, his 10th of the
year.
Lamson continued the fireworks in the third driving the first
pitch of the inning over the right field fence for his 10th of the
year.
Senior Ryan Hendrickson came on to strike out the side in the
seventh to seal the win. Michael Maples took the loss after
allowing five runs on seven hits in two innings.