The Belmont Abbey baseball team came away a pair of victories this afternoon, as they took on the Coker Cobras in a double header. The Abbey shutout the Cobras 1-0 in the first game and were able to outscore them 6-2 in the second game. The Crusaders improve to 10-4 overall and 3-0 in Conference Carolinas while Coker falls to 5-8 overall and 0-3 in Conference Carolinas.

In game one, which lasted only seven innings, the Crusaders struck for their only run in the top of the fifth. With two outs Michael Vargas doubled to left field. Ian Vazquez followed with a single to center field to chase Vargas home and make the score 1-0 in favor of the Abbey.

Coker's best and last chance to tie the score came in the top of the seventh as Frank Suarez singled to lead off the inning and was pinch run for by Chad Nader. A Nathan Wilson sacrifice bunt advanced Nader to second. Cody Stull responded by striking out Kurtis Baker for the second out of the inning. Rob Quattrock reached on a fielding error by Pagan at third base to extend the inning and put runners at first and second. Pagan replaced Stull on the mound and induced a ground out by Scott to record his fifth save.

Ian Vazquez led the Crusaders as he went 2-3 with an RBI. Vargas went 1-2 with a run scored. Stull earned the win after pitching six and two-thirds shutout innings and striking out eight without allowing a walk. Emilio Pagan recorded his fifth save in six appearances while only facing one batter.

Suarez and Wilson each went 1-2 for Coker in the losing effort. Dan Meyer suffered the loss despite pitching six solid innings and allowing only one run.

In game two, Coker struck first as Nader lead off the first inning with a single. Keith Wolf followed with a single of his own to put runners on first and second. An error allowed Suarez to reach and load the bases with no outs. Gabe Wallmeyer induced a flyout by Jake Frazier for the first out. Fico Kondla grounded into a fielder's choice to force in a run and make the score 1-0.

The Crusaders answered in the bottom half of the second. With two out in the inning Justin Vasquez struck out, but reached first on a wild pitch. Stephen Mullis followed with a walk to put runners on first and second. Kyle Buchanan singled up the middle to bring in Vasquez and knot the score at one.

The Abbey gained its first lead in the bottom of the second as Caleb Shore reached first after being hit with a pitch. John Cucchiarella doubled to center field to put runners on second and third. A sacrifice fly by Vazquez brought home Shore and made the score 2-1. Gabby Amor followed with a single up the middle to plate Cucchiarella and increase the advantage to 3-1.

Coker responded in the top of the fourth as Kondla singled up the middle to start the inning and advanced to second on Tony Nolan's sacrifice bunt. T.J. Sinnot singled to bring home Kondla to cut the Abbey advantage to 3-2.

Vasquez's solo homer in the bottom of the fourth increased the Crusader's lead to 4-2.

The Abbey scored two more in the bottom of the eight as Vazquez hit a solo home run with two outs to make the score 5-2. Amor followed with a triple and scored as Vazquez reached on a fielding error to give the Crusaders the 6-2 victory.

Vasquez led the way for the Crusaders going 3-5 with a home run and two RBIs. Amor went 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Vazquez went 1-3 with two RBIs. Wallmeyer took the win going eight innings and giving up two runs while striking out five.

Kondla went 2-4 for Coker with an RBI. Sinnott went 1-4 with and RBI. Sean Tracy took the loss as he pitched two innings and allowed three runs.