BELMONT, N.C. -- Cameron Cooper's three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth lifted Belmont Abbey to a 3-1 victory in the nightcap and a sweep of Lees-McRae in a Conference Carolinas softball doubleheader Friday afternoon at Crusader Field.

The Crusaders won the first game 5-0 to improve to 22-9 overall and 9-5 in league play. The Bobcats fall to 14-20, 8-8.

THE OPENER

• Hallie Mele, Sydney Pon and Emma Frye each had two of the Abbey's 10 hits in the contest.
• The Crusaders got off to a good start in the bottom of the first inning with three runs. Cooper drew a walk with the bases loaded while Frye and Emily Morgan had consecutive run-scoring singles.
• Mele's RBI single in the third made the score 4-0, while Kellee Branham hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to add the final run.
• Abby Craver pitched a complete-game shutout to improve to 10-5. She struck out seven, while allowing six hits and a walk.
• Bobcat starter Megan Powell (7-9) took after allowing four runs in three innings.

THE NIGHTCAP

• Each team managed just three hits in the contest as Powell and Crusader starter Alannah Browne were engaged in a pitchers' duel.
• Both team has just one baserunner (on walks) through the first three innings.
• Lees-McRae struck first on a run-scoring single in the fifth.
• The Abbey finally broke through in the sixth. Mele singled and was substituted for pinch-runner Hailey Gass.
• Two outs later, Pon singled to center before Cooper hit a 2-2 pitch off the top of the fence in left center for the eventual game-winner.
• Browne (9-3) earned the win with the complete-game effort. She walked two and allowed three hits against three strikeouts.
• Powell (7-10) took the loss for the Bobcats.

UP NEXT

• Belmont Abbey continues Conference Carolinas play tomorrow afternoon against King.
• First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Crusader Field.
• Four seniors will be honored in a pregame ceremony.