BELMONT, N.C. -- Sean Johnson hit the second pitch of the season over the center field fence and eight Crusader pitchers held Mars Hill to just three hits, lifting Belmont Abbey to a 10-1 victory Tuesday afternoon at Abbey Yard.

The Abbey registered 10 hits overall and sent nine men to the plate during a three-run first to take the season opener for both teams.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Following Johnson's long ball, Ben Ferguson singled in Ben Gobbel, then Matty Bapst was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
• The Crusaders took the 3-0 lead into sixth, when a pair of Lion walks and single cut the margin to 3-1.
• But The Abbey broke the game open in its half of the sixth, plating five move runs, highlighted by a two-run triple by Adam Overcash and RBI singles by freshman Connor Tucker and Bapst.
• Ferguson drove in two more runs with a double to left center in the eighth.
• Johnson, Ferguson and Gobbel each had a pair hits.
• Mars Hill pitchers hit 11 Crusaders, one shy of the NCAA Division II record. Patrick Taylor was plunked four times in five plate appearances, tied for the second-most in a single game.
• Sophomore Brendan Simonds (1-0) pitched three predetermined innings to earn the win, allowing just two his, while striking out one. Seven relievers combined to allow just one more hit and two walks over the final six frames.
• Mars Hill starter Dustin Revis (0-1) took the loss, pitching one inning.

UP NEXT

• Belmont Abbey welcomes Shippensburg to campus for a three-game set this weekend.
• The teams will meet for a single game Friday at 3, following by a noon doubleheader on Saturday.