BELMONT, N.C. -- Mackenzie Allison homered in both games and Sydney Pon hit a two-run home run as well, leading Belmont Abbey to a split of a doubleheader with Emmanuel in Conference Carolinas softball action Tuesday afternoon. The Lions took the opener 3-2, while the Crusaders came back for a 5-3 win in the nightcap.

The Abbey has split each of its three league twinbills in the last week to stand 8-14, 3-3, while Emmanuel sits at 15-13 overall and 4-2 in league play.

THE OPENER

• The Crusaders had just three hits in the contest -- a solo home run by Allison in the second that tied the game at one and singles by Bailey Presley and Alannah Browne.
• The Lions broke the tie in the fifth on a two-run single that followed two hits and a sacrifice bunt.
• Belmont Abbey plated an unearned run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Mackenzie Sprinkle, but left runners on the corners with two outs.
• Browne (3-9) took the complete-game loss, allowing nine hits and a walk, but striking out four.

THE NIGHTCAP

• Belmont Abbey pounded out 10 hits in the contest, including three by Hallie Mele. Allison, Presley and Adison Yoder tallied two hits each, while Sydney Pon added the last.
• Emmanuel again jumped out to an early lead, plating two in the third, but Pon tied the score with a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame to even the game.
• Allison's second round-tripper of the day in the fourth put The Abbey up 3-2 before the lead was extended in the fifth. Mele opened the inning with a double and later scored on a fielder's choice before Alison drew a bases-loaded walk for her third RBI of the day.
• Yoder earned the win to improve to 5-4. She walked one and struck out two over six innings before giving way to Browne in the seventh. The junior retired all three batters she faced for her second save of the season.

UP NEXT

• Belmont Abbey hits the road for three straight conference series.
• The Crusaders head to Lees-McRae and King this weekend before a March 29 trip to Francis Marion.