The Belmont Abbey baseball team captured its fifth Conference Carolinas series win of the year with a doubleheader split at North Greenville, taking the seven inning opener 4-2 but falling in the nightcap 10-3. The Abbey earned a 2-1 win on Friday in the series opener. Belmont Abbey moves to 25-14 overall and 15-6 in Conference Carolinas, while North Greenville drops to 23-14 overall and 12-6 in Conference Carolinas.

The series win gives the Abbey first place in the Conference Carolinas Western Division. The Crusaders entered the weekend trailing North Greenville by half a game.

In the first game, the Crusaders overcame a 2-1 deficit by scoring three in the top of the sixth inning. Joey Frabasile put the Abbey ahead 1-0 with a leadoff homer in the third, but North Greenville scored twice in the bottom of the inning on a two-run homer by centerfielder Markus Duckworth.

The score remained 2-1 North Greenville until the top of the sixth when the Abbey seized control of the contest with three runs on three hits. After a single and a double play to start the inning, Gabby Amor extended the inning with a single, followed by walks to Justin Vasquez and Emilio Pagan to load the bases. Kyle Buchanan wiped the bases clean with a double to surge the Crusaders ahead 4-2.

Abbey starting pitcher Nate Cudney, who went the distance, retired the last six batters he faced, retiring the side in order in the sixth and seventh innings. Cudney fanned seven as he gave up two runs on four hits. Ryan Woodring was charged with the loss in a complete-game effort, giving up four runs on seven hits, striking out three.

Frabasile paced the Abbey offense with two of the Crusaders seven hits. Buchanan drove in three runs, all on the sixth inning double.

In game two, North Greenville scored the first seven runs of the game, getting single runs in the second and third innings and five more in the fifth to open up a 7-0 lead.

The Crusaders scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the sixth, getting a two-RBI single by Caleb Shore and another on a sacrifice fly by Buchanan that brought home Ian Vazquez. The flurry closed the Abbey deficit to 7-3.

North Greenville responded with one more in the sixth and two more in the seventh to close the scoring.

Allen Stanton was credited with the win after giving up three runs on five hits in five and two-thirds innings, striking out three and walking five. Gabe Wallmeyer suffered the loss after giving up three runs, two earned, on three hits in four innings. He fanned two and walked five.

Amor and Pagan led the Abbey with two hits apiece as the Crusaders totaled seven.

Game One Box

Game Two Box