Matt Mazzolla's double down the left field line plated Kennan Stanley and Michael Falsetti to give Belmont Abbey(26-10-1, 10-7 CC) a two run lead, and Emilio Pagan cleared the bases with his second extra base hit to cap an eight run ninth inning to earn a 14-8 Conference Carolinas win over Coker College.

The afternoon began with Emilio Pagan driving the first pitch over the left centerfield fence some 400' away to give the Abbey a 1-0 lead. After a three run frame for the Cobras (25-12, 11-8) in the second, Ryan Allen, who finshed with a team-high four hits on the day, scored on an Anthony Dimino double to trim the lead to 3-2. Coker would tack on four more runs, including a three run sixth, and created a five run deficit going into the late innings.

The seventh inning would become the start of something big for the Abbey, as Conor Kwalwasser would single to lead off the frame. With one out, Ryan Allen collected his fourth hit of the day. Michael Falsetti walked with two down, and Kennan Stanley scored two runners with a triple to close the lead to 7-5. A Kyle Buchanan double would send Stanley home, and the Abbey trailed by one going to the seventh inning stretch.

Coker would scratch an insurance run across in the bottom of the inning, prompting Zach Loraine to enter the fray on the mound. In pursuit of his 13th save of 2013, Loraine retired the first three batters in order to close the eighth. Nate Cudney would match the Cobra closer with a scoreless eighth, setting the stage for a memorable comeback for the Crusaders.

Allen and Dimino would reach on consecutive walks to send Falsetti to the plate as the potential go-ahead run. Falsetti would single to left to reduce the lead back to one. Stanley would sacrifice the runners to second and third, but the Cobras were unable to complete the out, sending Buchanan to the plate with the bases jammed. Buchanan would tie the game with a hit-by-pitch, scoring Dimino, much to the chagrin of the Coker faithful. Matt Mazzolla would be inserted as a pinch hitter by Head Coach Scott Brickman, and Mazzolla would bring the Abbey faithful to its feet with a laser shot double, scoring Falsetti and Stanley. The barrage would continue as John Pilla would be hit by a pitch, and Emilio Pagan would clear the bases with a triple to the right field gap, stretching the lead to 13-8. With two down, Dimino would drive in Pagan with his second extra base hit to conclude the scoring for the Crusaders. With a new lease on his outing, Cudney would reap the benefits of the eleventh hour rally by keeping Coker scoreless in the ninth to take game one of the weekend series. The win would be Cudney's eighth, opposed by two losses. Loraine would take the loss, running his record to 1-2. Ryan Allen would lead six hitters with multi-hit games. Pagan would drive home four runs in the winning effort, scoring twice as well.

The series continues at noon tomorrow, as Cody Stull is scheduled to face Dan Meyer in the seven inning opener. The Abbey Sports Network will air at 11:45am on www.wgnc.net. Follow us on twitter: @abbeyathletics, #raisethered.

Yard Markers

Ryan's Rope- Allen raised his average 25 points in today's win. He now owns a .323 average on the year.

Three Square Emilio's- Pagan's third homer of the year was his second opposite field job of the year. His last homer was an opposite field shot at Carson- Newman on March, 12.

Better Late Than Never- the Crusaders eight run ninth was the most since the club scored March 20, at Mars Hill (W, 16-14). It was also the highest run total in a final inning of the season.