BELMONT, N.C. – The Belmont Abbey baseball team continued its strong start to the 2023 season by rallying and later holding on for a 9-8 victory over Wingate Tuesday at Abbey Yard.
The Crusaders recorded double-figures in hits for the fifth time this year and eight of the nine starters recorded a hit in the victory. All nine starters reached base in the win.
The Abbey improved to 9-0 on the season and it is the best start for the team went 9-0-1 to open the 2013 season. Wingate drops to 4-3.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Frankie Barrett made his first Belmont Abbey start in Tuesday's contest.
- After falling behind 3-0 after the first inning and a half, the Crusaders got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning with an RBI double from Joey Humphrey and an RBI ground out from Garrett Browder.
- Connor Tucker recorded the first of his two hits in the third inning and drove in a run to tie the game at 3-3.
- Tucker and Ben Ferguson scored two batters later thanks to a fielding error from Wingate with Joe Whitaker batting.
- The Bulldogs pulled even at 5-5 in the top of the fourth inning but Patrick Taylor gave the Crusaders the lead again with an RBI double to score Jack Boyles. Taylor finished with two hits on the day, both doubles.
- Drew Stegura only allowed one baserunner out of the six batters he faced during his appearance on the mound.
- Belmont Abbey extended its lead to 8-5 with an RBI single by Whitaker and a sacrifice fly by Humphrey.
- Wingate got back within a run in the seventh before Garrett Browder's two-out RBI double gave the Abbey a 9-7 lead.
- Ethan Wilson earned his first save of the season after being named Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Week earlier in the day.
- Seven pitchers made an appearance for The Abbey Tuesday.
REGIONAL RANKINGS
- The Belmont Abbey baseball team was ranked No. 3 in the latest Southeast Regional Rankings released by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
- Wingate entered Tuesday's game at No. 5 in the rankings.
UP NEXT
- The Crusaders open Conference Carolinas play with a three-game series at UNC Pembroke beginning 3 p.m. Friday. The Braves were ranked No. 4 in the same NCBWA poll released Tuesday.
- The series concludes with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Saturday.