Game One story- Cody Stull pitched 6.1 innings of quality baseball as he handed the ball to Emilio Pagan with a 4-1 lead. After overcoming a 7-2 deficit the precious day, the Crusaders (26-11-1, 10-8 CC) were poised to earn a series win on the road over the Coker College Cobras (26-12, 12-8 CC) Saturday afternoon at New Field. The Cobras would rally for three runs in the seventh to take the middle game of the three game weekend set to extras where Keith Wolf would hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Zach Durham as Coker completed the comeback 5-4 over the Crusaders. For the Abbey, Emilio Pagan would be tagged with the loss to fall to 1-3 on the year. Andrew Goot earned the win to advance his record to 7-0.

The Crusaders opened the game with a pair of runs as Emilio Pagan was hit by a pitch. He would eventually score on a wild pitch, giving the Abbey an early 1-0 advantage. Ryan Allen would add to the lead, scoring on a Kennan Stanley soft liner to right. Coker would cut the lead in half with a run in the third.

The fifth inning, Michael Accettullo would earn his first hit of the season with a brilliant bunt past the pitcher Dan Meyer. Fico Kondla attempted to chase down Accettullo, but was unable to make a tag on the speedster from Front Royal, VA. Accettullo was forced at second, as Pagan would reach on the play. Advancing to second on a balk, Ryan Allen plated Pagan on a single through the box. The Crusaders would tack on another run in the seventh as Accettullo would reach for the second time in the game on a walk. After Pagan sliced a double away from left fielder Brinley Griffin, advancing Accettullo to third; Allen would hit a fly ball to center, deep enough to score Accettullo. The insurance seemed to put enough distance between the Cobras and Cody Stull.

Coker had other ideas, however. Sammy Song whistled a shot out of the reach of second baseman Ryan Allen with one down. Shea Bell would double on the next at-bat, giving the Cobras new life with one down. Keith Wolf would send a slow roller between the mound and third base. Wolf, running hard out of the box, forced a hurried throw that ended up in foul ground well beyond the first base bag. Wolf trotted into third as Song would score on the single, Bell scored by virtue of the throwing error. Griffin would knot the game at four with a ground ball. The Crusaders exchanged the run for the out, and retired Zach Loraine to prompt bonus baseball. Meyer would hold the Abbey scoreless, giving the ball to Goot. Goot matched the scoreless frame and would watch with elation as Wolf would a lift sac fly to center, scoring pinch runner Zach Durham to force the rubber game. The base path party would convene some 225 feet from home plate as Wolf was mobbed by his Cobra teammates, who celebrated Senior Day just th
ree hours earlier.

Game Two story-

Parks Smithey would toe the slab for the Abbey (26-12-1, 10-9 CC) looking to take the rubber game of the weekend set, and build momentum for the action leading up to the Conference Carolinas baseball tourney in Burlington, NC. Alex Hernandez would oppose Smithey on the hill, seeking his fourth win of 2013.

Coker would jump out to a 1-0 lead as Keith Wolf would continue to be the enemy of Abbey hurlers, as his sac fly in the first would score Shea Bell. The Coker (27-12, 13-8 CC) bats would go cold, as Smithey got some much deserved help in the fourth. Michael Falsetti was plunked in the back with one down, and Kennan Stanley would make it sting for the Cobras with a triple to right center, hopping against the 387' marker, scoring Falsetti. Kyle Buchanan would experience an additional trip to first as he was hit on the elbow. Adam Venditti would score Stanley on a sacrifice fly, giving the Abbey a 2-1 lead. John Pilla smoked a double down the left field line, as Buchanan would score from first. The flurry would give the Abbey a brief lead, and its final mention on the scoreboard. In the fifth, the Coker bats would awaken, retaliating with three runs of their own. In the inning, Wolf would prey on the Abbey one more time, doubling in two runs to tie the game at three. Brinley Griffin would single through
the box, as Wolf raced home for the final margin.

Andrew Goot, who came in relief of Hernandez in the fifth, would strand Adam Venditti at second after he doubled. The extra base hit by Venditti would be the final safety of the day, as Zach Loraine would close the book on the Crusaders in the seventh to pick up his 13th save. For Goot, he recorded the atypical daily double, both wins coming in relief. Goot was the only pitcher for either club to record outs in each of the three games.

The Abbey now continues its road to Burlington with a non-conference tilt at Catawba on Tuesday. The Abbey Sports Network will discuss the Crusaders journey to Salisbury, as well as the teams three game series with Barton on the 'Scott Brickman Show'. This Monday, the show will be broadcast live from Moe's Southwestern Grill in Gastonia. Airtime for the weekly chat with the Crusaders Head Coach will be 5pm, on WGNC 1450am, and on www.wgnc.net. Follow us on twitter: @abbeyathletics, #raisethered.

Yard Markers

Allen Wrench Tightens Offense- Ryan Allen went 7 for 12 over the weekend, with five doubles. That effort raised the Oxford, NC natives average by 32 points, to .330. The .330 average is fifth on the club.

That Little Something Extra- the Crusaders recorded 17 extra base hits over the three game set, giving the club 136 extras on the season.

Ace is the Place- Acettullo, in his first start of the season, went 1 for 3 with a walk and single. His effort today gives him a .400 OB%

Game 1 Box

Game 2 Box