HARTSVILLE, S.C. — Belmont Abbey had a nearly two-point advantage in the team event, but came up just short of a big comeback, falling to Coker 256.21-256.01 in a Conference Carolinas Acrobatics & Tumbling meet Friday afternoon. Francis Marion, in its first year as a program totaled 177.49 points.

The Crusaders trailed by two points, 171.55-169.55, after the individual portions of the meet, but could only earn a 1.80 advantage in the final segment.
 
Belmont Abbey is now 2-1 on the season while Coker and Francis Marion are 3-0 and 0-3, respectively.

HOW IT HAPPENED 
Event 1 — Compulsory 
The meet started out close early as Belmont Abbey and Coker were separated by less than a point. The best score of the event came in Pyramid (Heat 2), where the Crusaders scored a 9.85/10. The Abbey also had scored of 9.45 and 9.05 in Heats 3 and 1, respectively.

Event 2 — Acro
Belmont Abbey had the highest score of the event in 5 Element Acro (Heat 1) scoring a 9.80/10. The team of Isabella Schrout, Gracie Grady, Blythe Terrell, Valentina Ordonez and Mackenzie Linegar. Coker's highest score in the event was a 9.70/9.95 in Heat 1 while Francis Marion had a 7.55/8.70 in the same heat.

Event 3 — Pyramid
The Crusaders finished with the best score of the event, tallying a 29.35 out of a possible 30 points. All three scores were a 9.7 or higher, highlighted by a 9.90 in Open Pyramid (Heat 3). Coker scored a 9.95/10 in the same heat. Coker led 94.90-93.70 over the Abbey had halftime. Francis Marion had 64.25 points at halftime.

Event 4 — Toss 
Belmont Abbey scored a 26.30/28 for the event, just behind the 26.55 of Coker. The highest score for the event for the Crusaders was a 9.0/9.3 in Open Toss (Heat 3).
Kristin Fary, Emily Wueste, Schrout, Terrell, Trinity Martinez and Grady were the Crusaders competing in the heat.

Event 5 — Tumbling 
The Abbey had three scores of 8.5 or higher in the event, with the highest point total of 8.8/9.1 in the Open Pass with Erena Chaples earning that score for the Crusaders. Sadie Hunt scored an 8.675/8.8 in the 6 Element Pass and Martinez tallied an 8.575/8.9 in the Aerial Pass.

Event 6 — Team Event
Belmont Abbey totaled 86.46, but Coker eked out just enough for meet win, posting a score of 84.66. Francis Marion earned 52.94 points.

UP NEXT 
Belmont Abbey hosts its first home meet of the season next Saturday against Limestone at 6 p.m. at the Wheeler Center.