If you listened to Cody Stull after his six inning opening night gem, you wouldn't think he pitched his best game as a student-athlete.After the game, the southpaw starter had this to say. "I actually felt kind of shaky in the bullpen."

The Matthews, NC junior fashioned a quality start on opening night, striking out 12 and surrendering just three hits as the Crusaders opened the 2013 campaign in grand fashion with an 11-1 win at Cormell Field.

The effort from the left hander was so complete, Stull had a stretch from the first through the fourth where he faced twelve consecutive batters that failed to put the ball in play. Two walks in the fourth were preceded by two frames where King batters went down swinging in order.

The Crusaders hitters managed only an unearned run until the fifth when Emilio Pagan started a four run rally with a one out walk. Ian Vazquez roped a single to right, allowing Pagan to take as Vazquez aggressively advanced to second on the throw to third. Conor Kwalwasser broke through with a seeing-eye single to left that scored two. That would become the winning margin for Stull. RBI singles by Anthony Dimino and Quinn Hawksworth closed out the scoring in the decisive frame.

The seventh inning boasted another rally for the Abbey nine as ten men came to the plate, scoring six times. The big blow of the inning came from Emilio Pagan. Pagan clouted a double into the right field corner, scoring Hawksworth and Gabby Amor. Vazquez collected his fourth hit of the night with a sharp single through the box to score Michael Falsetti and Pagan.

On the night, eight of the nine starters scratched out hits, as Kwalwasser, Dimino, and Amor joined Vazquez with multi-hit games.

Kyle Rogers earned his first save of the season with three hitless frames. The submarine pitcher from Auburn, Washington also accounted for two strikeouts.

The Crusader continue the weekend swing in Florence as they take on Claflin at noon. Claflin opened the season earlier in the day with a 9-1 loss to #7 Francis Marion.

Follow your Crusaders all season long on the Abbey Sports Network. The Abbey Sports Network can be heard on WGNC 1450am, and on www.wgnc.net.