DUNCAN, S.C. – The Belmont Abbey softball team entered Saturday as one of the last four teams standing at the Conference Carolinas tournament. For the second time in three days, the fourth-seeded Crusaders were facing off against the No. 5 seed Francis Marion Patriots at Tyger River Park.
Belmont Abbey was able to rally but it was Francis Marion who came away with a 4-3 victory to advance in the tournament.
The Crusaders conclude the season at 32-15, the most wins in a single season in program history. The team surpassed the previous record of 31 set back in 2004.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Francis Marion got on the scoreboard first with a leadoff home run in the top of the second inning.
- Cooper was the first base runner for the Crusaders after reaching with a walk in the bottom of the second.
- Emma Frye had the first hit of the day for The Abbey with a leadoff single in the third.
- The Patriots extended the lead to 4-0 with a three-run fifth inning.
- Cooper recorded one of her two hits on the day with a leadoff single in the fifth.
- Belmont Abbey got within a run in the sixth with a three-run home run by Payton Whitley. Hallie Mele and Sydney Pon each had singles prior to Whitley's ninth home run of the season.
- Cooper followed that up with a triple during the next at bat.
- Abby Craver did not allow a hit in 3.1 innings of relief and struck out five batters to keep the Crusaders in the game.
TOURNAMENT UPDATE
- Pitcher Alannah Browne and outfielder Sydney Pon were the two Crusaders named to the All-Tournament team by the conference following the conclusion of Sunday's championship game.
