DUNCAN, S.C. – The Belmont Abbey softball team kept its season alive and set a new school record for most wins in a single season as the Crusaders won a pair of one-run games Friday at Tyger River Park.
 
Belmont Abbey defeated Mount Olive 9-8 in the first game of the day and followed that up with a 6-5 win over No. 7 seed UNC Pembroke in the final game of the evening.
 
The Crusaders moved to 32-14 overall on the season and surpassed the 31 wins they earned during the 2004 season in which they went on to win the Conference Carolinas Tournament.
 
Mount Olive ended the season at 39-13 while UNC Pembroke finished the year at 26-17.
 
Belmont Abbey 9, Mount Olive 8

• The Crusaders got off to a strong start by scoring five runs in the top of the second inning.
• The scoring started with a two-run double by Bailey Presley and followed later with a bases-clearing double by Payton Whitley. Whitley would be tagged out on the play trying to advance to third base.
• Belmont Abbey was able to get out of the third inning maintaining a 5-1 lead with a groundout.
• The Trojans added two more runs in the fifth to make it 5-3 in favor of Belmont Abbey.
• The Crusaders extended the lead to 7-3 in the sixth inning thanks to a two-run single by Sydney Pon.
• Mount Olive attempted to rally in the sixth inning but had a batter called out for batting out of order.
• The Trojans went ahead 8-7 with a five-run frame. Abby Craver came in relief in the sixth inning before Alannah Browne re-entered as the pitcher.
• The Crusaders put together a two-out rally in the seventh inning starting with a Hailey Gass single and a walk from Emma Frye.
• Mackenzie Sprinkle hit a double to left-center field to tie the game at 8-8.
• Hallie Mele and Presley walked in consecutive at-bats and Presley's walk brought in the go-ahead run to make it 9-8.
• Browne was able to pitch a scoreless seventh inning and recorded the final out on a fielder's choice to third base to end the game.
• The Crusaders finished the game with 11 hits, including two each from Presley, Pon, Maddie Phillips and Hailey Gass.

 
Belmont Abbey 6, UNC Pembroke 5

• Cameron Cooper put the Crusaders on the board in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI single to score Mele.
• The Braves took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second inning with a pair of runs in the frame before the Crusaders answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning.
• Belmont Abbey tied the game with an RBI double by Mackenzie Sprinkle that was followed by a sacrifice fly from Presley and an RBI double from Sydney Pon.
• Both teams scored a run each in the third inning with Emma Frye adding a sacrifice fly.
• The Braves tied the game with two runs in the top of the sixth before Cooper hit an RBI double to put the Abbey ahead. She finished the second game with three hits.
• Cooper also made a game-saving play in right field in the bottom of the seventh inning by making a leaping catch with the bases loaded to record the second out and keep the runners on base.
• Abby Craver forced a groundout to end the game and seal the win for the Crusaders. It is her 5th win of the season.

 
UP NEXT

• The Crusaders will play Francis Marion in the Conference Carolinas semifinals beginning at noon Saturday.
• Francis Marion defeated Belmont Abbey 4-1 in the first game of the tournament for both teams Thursday.
• Belmont Abbey must win twice Saturday to advance to the championship game.