BELMONT, N.C. -- Late-inning heroics in both games lifted Belmont Abbey to a doubleheader sweep of Southern Wesleyan 3-2 and 6-4 Friday in Conference Carolinas softball action on Friday afternoon. The Crusaders walked off in game one on a
Payton Whitley single to center, then rallied from a 2-1 deficit with a five-run fifth in the nightcap.
The sweep runs The Abbey's winning streak to 11 games, one shy of the school record. It is now 15-11 overall and 11-3 in league play and tied with Erskine for first place with six games remaining. Southern Wesleyan falls to 13-11, 7-7.
THE OPENER
- Whitley was 2-for-4 with two runs batted in. In addition to the game-winner, she also doubled down the left-field line in the first inning to put the Crusaders up 1-0.
- Melissa Neyhouse, Cameron Cooper and Hailey Gass also contributed to the five-hit attack.
- Southern Wesleyan tied the game in the fifth with an unearned run, but Neyhouse scooted home on a wild pitch in the bottom of the frame. The Warriors used a solo home run in the sixth to even the game at 2-2.
- Annabeth Watkins (8-6) earned the win with a two-hit complete game. She did not allow a walk, while striking out seven. Only one of the Warriors' runs was earned.
THE NIGHTCAP
- Cameron Cooper and Whitley both homered during a five-run fifth inning that reversed a 2-1 deficit. Cooper also provided a solo shot in the second as part of a two-hit day.
- Whitley and Morgan Smith also registered two hits in the contest.
- After an out in the fifth, Neyhouse and Sydney Pon walked before Whitley cranked a pitch deep over the wall in left center, putting the Crusaders ahead for good 4-2.
- After Smith walked and the second out was recorded, Cooper hit her third long ball of the season for a 6-2 lead.
- A two-run home run by the Warriors in the sixth cut the gap to 6-4, then they loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh. But Watkins came out of the bullpen and induced a game-ending 1-2-3 double play to end the contest.
- The save was the first of the season for Watkins and the Crusaders.
- Abigail Mravlja improved to 2-0 with 4.0 innings of solid relief. She scattered eight hits and a walk, while surrendering just the two runs.
UP NEXT
- Belmont Abbey hosts North Greenville on Tuesday at 1 p.m. in the final home game of the 2021 season.
- The teams were scheduled to meet tomorrow, but the doubleheader was pushed back due to weather.
- The Crusaders will be looking to equal or tie the school record for longest winning streak, currently at 12 by the 2004 team.