Box Score
Box score
The Belmont Abbey baseball team scored eight runs in the final
four innings to come from behind and take a 9-6 victory over
Lenoir-Rhyne at Abbey Yard on Wednesday afternoon. The victory
gives the Abbey a four-game series sweep over the Bears this
season. The Crusaders improve to 27-15 overall and 16-6 in
Conference Carolinas with the win. The Bears fall to 12-34 overall
and 8-17 in Conference Carolinas with the loss.
The Crusaders took an early 1-0 lead, but the Bears answered
with three runs in the third and two runs in the fifth to take a
5-1 advantage. The Abbey chipped away with a run in the fifth, two
runs in the sixth, and a run in the seventh to tie the game at
five. A four run explosion in the bottom of the eighth gave the
Crusaders a 9-5 lead. Emilio Pagan struck out Landon Elks to stop
Lenoir-Rhyne's ninth inning rally at one and give the Abbey the 9-6
victory.
The Abbey struck first in the bottom of the second to take a 1-0
lead. Emilio Pagan led off with a walk and swiped second. Pagan was
followed by a Matt Mazzolla walk to put runners on first and
second. After a fly out by Caleb Shore, Pagan was able to reach
second on an errant pick off attempt by Ryan Reedy. Pagan would
score on Ian Vazquez's sacrifice fly.
Lenoir-Rhyne responded with three runs in the top of the third
to take a 3-1 advantage. Dalton Hall started the inning with a
single and scored on Mike Gasque's double down the left field line.
Stephan Arcieri followed with a double of his own to put runners on
second and third. Ivan Vieitez added another double to bring in
Gasque and Arcieri.
The Bears scored two more in the top of the fifth to increase
their lead to 5-1. Arcieri got the inning started with a single and
advanced all the way to third on an error. Vieitz followed with a
single to score Arcieri. Vieitz stole second, advanced to third,
and scored on a sacrifice bunt by Luke Baynham.
The Crusaders cut into the deficit with a run in the bottom of
the fifth to make the score 5-2. Vazquez bunted for a single to
lead off the inning and advanced to second on a throwing error.
Cucchiarella followed with a single to score Vazquez.
The Abbey struck for two runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut
the deficit to 5-4. Joey Frabasile doubled to start the rally and
advanced to third on a passed ball by Baynham. Pagan singled to
bring home Frabasile. Another passed ball by Baynham allowed Pagan
to reach second. Mazzolla's groundout moved Pagan to third, and a
wild pitch by Aaron Bentley allowed Pagan to score.
The Crusaders tied the contest at five in the bottom of the
seventh. Gabby Amor singled with two outs and was followed by a
walk by Justin Vasquez. Frabasile's single through the right side
of the infield plated Amor to tie the game.
The Abbey took the lead for good in the bottom half of the eight
inning as it exploded for four runs to make the score 9-5. Mazzolla
led off with a walk and was pinch run for by J.C. Howze. Shore
followed with a double to put runners at second and third.
Following a Vazquez groundout, John Cucchiarella tripled to score
Buchanan and Shore. Buchanan came through with a double to score
Cucchiarella. Frabasile followed a Vasquez walk with a single to
score Buchanan.
The top of the ninth saw the Bears rally to score a run and make
the final score 9-6. Gasque singled to start the rally and was
followed by a Vieitez single to put runners on first and second.
Rai Robinson singled to score Gasque and move Vieitez to second.
Max Priest entered the game as a pinch hitter and recorded a single
to load the bases with two outs. Pagan struck out Elks end the game
and record the save, his conference leading 11th of the year.
Frabasile led the Crusaders at the plate going 3-5 with two RBI
and a run scored. Cucchiarella came through with a 2-4 performance
while accumulating three RBI and a run scored. James White recorded
the win in four innings of relief while allowing one run and
striking out two.
Gasque and Vieitez each went 3-5 on the day for Lenoir-Rhyne
with Gasque recording an RBI and two runs scored, and Vieitez
recording three RBI and a run scored. Arcieri went 3-4 on the day
with two runs scored. Vieitez was saddled with the loss after
pitching two-thirds of an inning and allowing four runs on four
hits.