The Belmont Abbey baseball team erased a 2-0 deficit by scoring five unanswered runs, one in the seventh and four in the eighth, to rally past the Erskine Flying Fleet 5-2 this afternoon at Abbey Yard in the opening game of a three-game Conference Carolinas set. The Crusaders move to 22-6 overall and 7-1 in Conference Carolinas, while Erskine drops to 17-9 overall and 3-7 in Conference Carolinas.

Crusader starting pitcher Steven Thiele earned the win in eight strong innings, giving up two runs on eight hits while fanning five and walking none as he moved his record to 5-0. Jordan Cudney nailed down his seventh save after retiring the side in order in the top of the ninth, striking out a pair. Kit Carter was charged with the loss. He gave up five runs, three earned, on four hits in two innings of relief. Starter Zach McAllister held the Crusaders scoreless through the first six innings, scattering four hits and striking out five.

The Flying Fleet struck first in the top of the second inning as Chase Corn singled up the middle and scored on a Will Huff double down the leftfield line. In the fifth Erskine doubled its lead to 2-0 on a two out solo home run by Zach Smith.

Belmont Abbey began its comeback in the bottom of the seventh to slice the Erskine lead to 2-1. Carter began the inning by giving up a leadoff single to Tim Dye, who raced to second on a throwing error by the catcher. He moved to third on a fielder's choice off the bat of Matt Mazzolla, and scored on another fielder's choice, this time off the bat of Caleb Shore, who beat the throw to first on a potential inning-ending double play.

In the eighth Erskine had a chance to widen its lead to 3-1, but failed to do so as the third out was cut down at the plate. Smith led off with a single and stole second after a lineout. After another lineout, Casey Winckowski singled to right. Smith raced towards home, but Shore's throw beat him just before he touched the plate to end the inning with the Abbey still down 2-1.

The Crusaders surged ahead in the bottom of the inning to seize control of the game. Roberto Sanchez began the inning reaching by an error and moved to third on a double by Justin Vasquez. Joey Frabasile tied the game at two with a ringing single to left, scoring Sanchez with the tying run and moving Vasquez to third. Following a walk to Kyle Buchanan, Chris Vazquez put the Abbey ahead for good when his flyout to left was deep enough to score Vasquez to put the Crusaders on top 3-2. Dye followed Vazquez's sacrifice fly with one of his own, this one plating Frabasile to move the lead to 4-2. Mazzolla closed the scoring on a single back up the middle that brought home Buchanan with the game's final run.

Cudney nailed down the win with a groundout and a pair of swinging strikeouts.

Both teams finished with eight hits as Mazzolla led the way with three in four at bats. Vasquez finished with a pair. Winckowski and Smith led the Flying Fleet with two hits apiece. Erskine committed three errors defensively, while the Abbey was error-free.

The final two games of the series take place tomorrow beginning at noon.