Kyle Rogers pitched 5.1 innings of relief, and Matt Mazzolla continued to command the spotlight with late game heroics, as the Belmont Abbey Crusaders(23-8-1) knocked off the Wingate Bulldogs 4-3 at Abbey Yard.

Matt Davenport and Stephen Vaughan matched zeros through the first three innings. Wingate (26-14) broke the stalemate with three runs on four hits, chasing Davenport. Rogers was able to get out of a bases loaded jam, leaving the Crusaders trailing 3-0. Rogers would then take over, allowing only two hits, as only one Bulldogs base runner would advance to second for the rest of Rogers's outing.

Rogers(2-0) would save his best work for the final ten batters, retiring all of them in succession. The Crusaders would respond with a pair of runs in the fourth to trim the lead to 3-2. Kennan Stanley singled to left, followed by Weston Clarke's single down the right field line that ended with Clarke at third on a throwing error, scoring Stanley. The miscue was magnified as John Pilla hit a bounding ball that found the second base bag and deflected into short center field, scoring Clarke.

In the seventh, the Crusaders began a two out rally as Conor Kwalwasser laced a single to center off reliever Kyle Brady. Anthony Dimino was hit by a pitch, sending Kwalwasser to second. That set the scene for Michael Falsetti, as the junior from Illinois drove Kwalwasser home with a sharp single to right center. The single was his second of the day, and the run batted in was his club leading 30th RBI.

With Rogers silencing the Wingate bats in the latter innings, Kwalwasser would open the walk-off rally by coaxing a free pass from eventual losing pitcher Joshua Karr. After Dimino advanced Kwalwasser to second, Falsetti was hit by a pitch to bring Matt Mazzolla to the plate. Mazzolla ripped a single to left, and Kwalwasser sprinted to victory ahead of the throw from Bill Krebs. The RBI was Mazzolla's fifth on his final at-bat during this 11 game homestand.

The comeback win spoiled a solid effort from Vaughan, who logged six and one-thirds innings, scattering nine hits, while allowing one earned run. The win marks the eighth win over South Atlantic Conference foes, with consecutive wins over the SAC's top two clubs. The win continues a run of nine wins in the Abbey's last twelve games, and continues a 5-1 homestand that will conclude next Tuesday's doubleheader against Carson-Newman.

The Crusaders continue the stand against North Greenville Friday afternoon. First pitch time is slated for 3:30pm, with the Abbey Sports Network going on-air at 3:15pm on WGNC 1450am and www.wgnc.net. Follow the Crusaders on twitter: @abbeyathletics, please hashtag #raisethered.

Other notes from today:

-In two appearances after the Easter break, Kyle Rogers has dealt six and one-thirds innings of scoreless relief, reducing his ERA by more than a run (5.40 to 4.25).

-Matt Mazzolla has not recorded an out in the ninth inning during the entire 2013 campaign.

-Michael Falsetti has a ten game hitting streak, going 21-41(.512) in the span.

-Anthony Dimino had a six game hitting streak snapped on Wednesday, breaking a run of multi-hit games and a .565(13-23) average during the streak.