The Belmont Abbey baseball team scored the go ahead run in the top of the twelfth and held off a late Lenoir-Rhyne rally as it put runners on first and second in the bottom of the inning to take 8-7 win over the Bears. The win improves the Crusaders to 5-1 and drops the Bears to 1-5.

After three scoreless innings the Crusaders struck first with three runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 3-0 advantage. Kyle Buchanan followed Justin Vasquez and Stephen Mullis's singles with one of his own to score Vasquez. Emilio Pagan hit into a fielder's choice to chase home Mullis. After Pagan stole second and Matt Mazzolla walked, Joey Frabasile singled to score Pagan.

Lenoir-Rhyne answered in the bottom half the inning with four runs to take 4-3 lead. Rai Robinson and Ivan Vieitez singled to start the inning with Robinson scoring the Bears first run on Hall's single. Logan Senelis-Jose's sacrifice fly chased home Vietez. After a Mike Mastroberti walk, Landon Elks doubled to plate Hall and Mastroberti.

The Abbey tied to game in the top of the fifth with one out as Gabby Amor and Vasquez each drew walks. Mullis followed with a single up the middle to score Vasquez and tie the score at 4-4.

Following a scoreless fifth by Lenoir-Rhyne the Crusaders regained the lead in the top of the sixth. Mazzolla drew a base on balls and was followed by Frabasile's single to put runners on first and second. After Frabasile advanced to second on a wild pitch, Ian Vazquez doubled to left center to clear the bases and make the score 6-4. Vazquez stole third and scored the third run of the inning on Amor's sacrifice fly to increase the Abbey advantage to 7-4.

Lenoir-Rhyne responded in the bottom of the seventh with three runs to tie the game at seven. Mike Gasque drew a walk, advanced to third on Stephan Arcieri's single, and scored on a passed ball by Buchanan. Robinson followed with a double to plate Arcieri. Hall reached on an error by Amor that allowed Robinson to score the tying run. The score remained tied at seven, as both teams failed to make it further than second base in the eighth or the ninth, to send the game to extra innings.

The Crusaders threatened in the top of the tenth as Mazzola doubled to lead off the inning and was lifted for pinch runner John Cucchiarella. Frabasile followed with a fly out to center field. Dakota Irwin came in to pinch hit for Michael Vargas and advanced Cucchiarella to third with a ground out to second. Vazquez followed with a ground out to the pitcher to end the threat.

The Abbey scored the go ahead run in the top of the twelfth. Pagan walked with one out in the inning, advanced to second on a passed ball, and reached third on a wild pitch. Cucchiarella followed with a single to left field that plated Pagan to make the score 8-7.

Lenoir-Rhyne put runners on first and second with two out in the bottom of the twelfth, but failed to score as Elks lined out to Vazquez at shortstop giving the Crusaders the 8-7 victory.

Frabasile went 4-6 with an RBI for the Abbey. Mazzolla was 2-3 on the day and scored the game winning run. Cucciarella drove in the game winning run with a single in his only at bat. Vazquez went 2-7 with a double and two RBIs. Mullis went 2-4 with an RBI.

Matt Parish took the win going five scoreless innings and recording six strikeouts. Pagan recorded the save, his fourth in six games.