BELMONT, N.C. -- Sophomore
Kellee Branham registered five hits and
Payton Whitley's home run was the game-winner in the opener as Belmont Abbey improved to 10-0 on the season with a sweep of Southern New Hampshire Saturday afternoon at Crusader Field.
The Crusaders won the opener 6-5 before taking the second 10-2 in six innings The Penmen fall to 0-4 on a season-opening road swing through the Carolinas.
THE OPENER
- Whitley hit a two-out solo home run with two outs in the sixth for the game-winner. She finished the contest 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a pair driven in.
- Branham had three hits in three at-bats, including a bases-loaded double in the third.
- Hallie Mele, Cameron Cooper and Maddie Phillips also recorded hits in the contest.
- The Abbey fell behind 3-0 in the third, but quickly rallied with four in its half. Whitley broke the shutout with an RBI single to shortstop before Branham short-hopped the fence in right field to make the score 4-3.
- The Penmen went ahead 5-4 in their next at-bat, but Mele immediately answered with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth to knot the score at 5-5.
- Alannah Browne (3-0) pitched 3.2 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win. She walked one and struck out one, while allowing just one hit.
- Hammond took the loss to fall to 0-2 despite allowing just three hits in 3.0 innings of relief.
THE NIGHTCAP
- Branham went 3-for-4 in the nightcap with four runs batted in, starting with an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning. She later scored on a wild pitch later in the inning.
- She continued her strong afternoon with a three-run home run in the third inning.Â
- Browne scattered seven hits over 4.2 innings to earn the victory. She improved to 4-0, walking one and striking out two.
- Emily Morgan had two hits in the second game, highlighted by an RBI single in the fifth.Â
- Payton Whitley added a two-run single to extend the lead to 9-2 in the fifth inning.Â
- Mackenzie Sprinkle closed the game out in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single to left field.Â
UP NEXT
- Belmont Abbey plays its next four games on the road.
- The Crusaders travel to Emory & Henry on Tuesday for a doubleheader.
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