BELMONT, N.C. — The Belmont Abbey baseball team returned to Abbey Yard for a Saturday afternoon doubleheader with Erskine to wrap up a three-game Conference Carolinas series.
 
The Crusaders battled but the Flying Fleet used big innings in each game to come away with the doubleheader sweep over the Abbey. Erskine won the opener 12-6 before earning an 8-3 win in the nightcap.
 
With Saturday's results, Belmont Abbey is now 12-12 overall, 9-6 in Conference Carolinas. Erskine is 12-14, 5-6 in league play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
THE OPENER

• Erskine jumped out to an early lead with a run in the first followed by a seven-run third inning.
• The Crusaders tallied their first two runs of the game in the bottom of the third with a sacrifice fly by Jack Boyles followed by an RBI single from Garrett Browder.
• Browder added another RBI single in the fifth inning.
• Down 10-3 in the sixth, Belmont Abbey had its biggest inning of the day with a three-run frame in the sixth with RBI singles from Boyles and Connor Tucker as well as an RBI from Todd Velotta.
• Jacob Larkins took the loss for the Crusaders.

 
THE NIGHTCAP

• Connor Powell finished 3-for-5 in the second game of the twin bill.
• Erskine jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a home run in the first inning.
• The Crusaders answered with a Joe Whitaker home run in the second and a Tucker RBI single in the third to pull even.
• Both teams scored runs in the fifth to make it 3-3 entering the sixth.
• The Fleet scored five runs in the sixth inning to pull away.
• Thomas Paxton entered in the sixth and did not allow a run in three innings.
• Jake Craddock pitched a scoreless ninth inning and struck out two.  

 
UP NEXT

• The Crusaders will head on the road to face Mars Hill at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
• Belmont Abbey defeated the Lions 9-2 at Abbey Yard back on February 13.
• The Abbey resumes conference play with a three-game home series against Emmanuel next weekend.