GASTONIA, N.C. – The Belmont Abbey baseball team returned to action to face Barton in the opening round of the 2023 Conference Carolinas Baseball Tournament Wednesday afternoon at CaroMont Health Park.
 
Connor Powell finished with a two-hit day for the Crusaders but it was the Bulldogs who came away with a 9-0 victory.
 
Belmont Abbey was shut out for just the second time this season and drops to 37-15 overall on the season. Barton improves to 30-18 and will face No. 3 seed UNC Pembroke tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. in a winner's bracket contest. The Braves defeated Mount Olive 5-4 in 10 innings earlier Thursday.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Barton struck first in the bottom of the second inning with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly.
• The Crusaders' first hit came in the fourth inning when Connor Powell reached on an infield single.
• Ben Ferguson reached two batters later with a single that was later followed by another single from Connor Tucker.
• Belmont Abbey had the bases loaded in both the fourth and fifth innings but were unable to bring anyone across.
• A four-run fifth inning highlighted by a pair of home runs for Barton broke the game open.
• Tanner Halvorson pitched a complete-game shutout for the Bulldogs in the win. 
• Drew Stegura, Jake Craddock and Layton Dickerson all made their first appearances out of the bullpen for the Crusaders in the tournament.

 
ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS

• Following the conclusion of the game, Garrett Browder, Ben Ferguson, Patrick Taylor and Alex Sniffen were recognized for earning all-conference honors. 
• Browder was a first-team selection while Ferguson, Taylor and Sniffen were named to the second team. Additionally, Ferguson was an All-Defensive Team selection at first base.

 
UP NEXT

• The Crusaders will face the loser of Francis Marion-North Greenville at 11 a.m. Friday. The two teams were scheduled to play later Thursday evening.
• Barton faces UNC Pembroke in the winner's bracket at 7 p.m. Friday.