NEWBERRY, S.C. – The Belmont Abbey baseball team matched a program-best win total with a ninth-inning rally and it proved to be the difference as the No. 3 seed Crusaders defeated No. 2 seed Newberry 10-9 Saturday evening at the Smith Road Athletic Complex.
 
Belmont Abbey improves to 41-16 overall, the most since the team won 41 games back in 2008. Additionally, it is the first time in program history that the Crusaders have advanced to a Super Regional since the format was implemented back in the 2019 season.
 
Todd Velotta scored in the top of the ninth inning on an RBI single from Ben Ferguson while the go-ahead run came in on a sacrifice fly by Garrett Browder. Drew Stegura earned the win by recording the final four outs for the Crusaders and did not give up a hit in that stretch.
 
Newberry advanced to the championship series matchup after defeatiing UNC Pembroke 10-9 in 11 innings in an elimination game earlier in the day. The Wolves finish the season at 43-15 overall.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Patrick Taylor was hit by a pitch for the 42nd time this season in his first plate appearance of the night, setting a new single-season Division II record.
• The Crusaders got on the board in the first inning with a pair of back-to-back RBI singles from Garrett Browder and Connor Tucker.
• Newberry answered with a run in the bottom of the first inning.
• Nic Aehlert worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the second inning to maintain the 2-1 lead for The Abbey.
• The Wolves took the lead in the third with an RBI single followed by a run scoring on a Crusaders error.
• Newberry pushed its lead to 7-2 with a four-run fifth inning before Belmont Abbey pulled even thanks to a five-run sixth inning.
• Todd Velotta and Jack Boyles got things going with back-to-back RBI singles while Caleb Burr scored on a wild pitch.
• Velotta scored on a swinging strikeout while Boyles scored thanks to an RBI single from Taylor. Gianni Smith made his first appearance since April 15.
• The Crusaders took the lead in the eighth inning with a Powell scoring on a wild pitch.
• Newberry regained the lead with a two-run double in the bottom of the inning.
• That set the stage for the final rally with the two runs in the ninth.
• All nine starters recorded a hit for The Abbey with Browder led the way with three hits.
• Stegura did not allow a hit in 1.2 innings of relief.
• He was one of four Crusaders with multiple hits along with Powell, Taylor and Connor Tucker who had two each.
• Belmont Abbey drew eight walks on the night.

 
UP NEXT

• Belmont Abbey advances to the Super Regional to face North Greenville next weekend in Tigerville, S.C. in a best-of-3 series starting Friday, May 26.
• The winner of that series advances to the Division II College World Series June 3-10 in Cary, N.C.