The Crusaders finished their tour of the South Atlantic Conference Tuesday night, falling to the regular season champions at Newman Park by a 12-10 score. Graham Lawing evened his record at 2-2, while Kyle Rogers was pinned with his first loss of 2013 (2-1). Ryan McClintock notched his eighth save of the season, as the Indians now prepare for action in the Food Lion SAC tournament being held at McNair Field in Forest City, NC.

The Crusaders got on the board almost immediately as Emilio Pagan banged a Cameron Cockman offering high off the center field wall to lead off with a triple. Ryan Allen flied to left, scoring Pagan on the sacrifice fly. In the fourth, the Abbey would expand the lead to 4-0 as Anthony walked, stole second, and scored on a throwing error causing Michael Falsetti to reach first. Kennan Stanley doubled down the left field line to advance Falsetti to third. After an RBI ground out from Kyle Buchanan scored Falsetti, John Pilla hit a liner to left field yielding Stanley, giving starting pitcher Forrest Buchanan a four run cushion as he entered the bottom half of the inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Indians would plate nine runs, and would touch up the Crusaders for an additional two in the fifth to garner all the necessary offense to win their 34th game, against 11 losses. The Crusaders would rally for three runs in both fifth and sixth innings, including a majestic home run from Pagan to cut the lead to 11-10. In the sixth, Pilla and Adam Venditti would preceed Pagan on base when Pagan hit the one out dinger. Pagan and his Crusaders cohorts would threaten again in the eighth as Venditti reached on a hit batter, and Matt Mazzolla would continue his pinch hit prowess with an opposite field double. With the tying run in scoring position, Pagan and Quinn Hawksworth were retired in order to shut down the rally. McClintock would pitch a perfect ninth, denying the Crusaders a second midweek thriller against the Indians.

The Crusaders (26-13-1) will travel to Barton for a three game set with tournament implications. Pregame on the Abbey Sports Network begins Friday at 3:15pm. WGNC 1450am and www.wgnc.net will bring you the action. Follow us on twitter: @abbeyathletics, #raisethered

Yard Markers

Adios Pelota- Emilio Pagan's fourth homer of the year ties him with Kennan Stanley, Anthony Dimino and Levi Wright for tops on the club.

Who's on first? - During tonight's game, Levi Wright replaced Ryan Allen in the order. He played his usual right field. That sent a major ripple throughout the defensive alignment, as Conor Kwalwasser moved to center, Kennan Stanley moved to third, Emilio Pagan to short, and John Pilla to second. Only three players remained in the game at the same position they started. Ironically enough, first base was one of them(Venditti)

Beg, Steal or Barton- In the past fifteen games against Barton, the Crusaders are 9-6.