Catawba erased a 6-1 deficit by scoring seven unanswered runs and held off a ninth-inning Abbey rally to earn an 8-7 win this afternoon at Abbey Yard. The Indians, ranked 23rd nationally, improve to 10-4, while the Crusaders drop to 12-7.

Belmont Abbey jumped ahead in the bottom of the first on a two run homer by Justin Vasquez, but Catawba sliced the lead in half in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single by Keaton Hawks. The Crusaders fired right back, scoring four runs on two hits in the bottom of the second to pull away with a 6-1 lead. Dan Brion led off with a walk and raced to third on a double by Gabby Amor. John Cucchiarella then struck out but reached first on a wild pitch to load the bases for Ian Vazquez, who worked a walk to plate Brion for the third run. After a pitching change, Caleb Shore flew out to center, deep enough to allow Amor to score. After a stolen base, Vasquez grounded out to first, but it allowed Cucchiarella to score from third to widen the gap to 5-1, and Pagan closed the scoring in the frame with a single to right that brought home Vazquez.

Catawba answered right back in the top of the third, scoring four runs on five hits and taking advantage of two Abbey errors to pull within one run. One inning later, the Indians claimed the lead for good with three runs on three hits, and using two Abbey errors to their advantage to take a lead they would never lose at 8-6.

Belmont Abbey cut the lead to one in the bottom of the seventh as Vasquez led off with a double to right center and moved to third on an infield single by Pagan. Joey Frabasile grounded into a double play that allowed Vasquez to score from third to pull the Abbey to within 8-7.

The Crusaders threatened in the eighth as they put a runner on second with one out, but a strikeout and a groundout ended the inning. Down to its final three outs, Vasquez led off the ninth taking a pitch off the foot, but was stranded there on a flyout and two strikeouts.

Catawba reliever Nate King, the third of six Indians pitchers, earned the win after holding the Abbey to just one hit over three scoreless innings, striking out three and walking one. JJ Jankowski picked up the save after working the final inning. Patrick Rossi was charged with the loss after giving up three unearned runs in two and two-thirds innings, fanning two.

Pagan led the Abbey with three hits in five at bats, while Vasquez finished two for four with three RBI and two runs scored. The Crusaders totaled nine hits. Catawba finished with 14 hits as Brett Underwood went four for four. Four other Indians totaled two hits apiece.