MARS HILL, N.C. — The Belmont Abbey baseball team rallied from two multi-run deficits with a pair of big innings as the Crusaders defeated Mars Hill 15-12 Tuesday afternoon at Henderson Field.
The Crusaders trailed by seven runs entering the fourth inning and three runs in the eighth inning and responded with a seven-run and six-run frame, respectively.
Additionally, all nine batters for The Abbey recorded a hit and finished with three home runs on the day. That total also included the first career grand slam by
Connor Powell. He had four runs batted in on the day while
Caleb Burr and
Todd Velotta each had three.
Belmont Abbey improves to 13-12 overall while Mars Hill drops to 10-17.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After a scoreless first inning, Garrett Browder got the Crusaders on the board with a leadoff home run in the second. It is the third time in the last five games that Browder has homered.
- Caleb Burr added a leadoff home run in the third inning for the Abbey. Mars Hill scored nine runs over the second and third innings to take the lead.
- Belmont Abbey sent 11 batters to the plate in a seven-run fourth inning for the Crusaders to pull even at 9-9.
- Browder was hit by a pitch and later scored on an RBI single by Justin Herrera.
- The next two runs scored when Burr was hit by a pitch and Velotta drew a walk with the bases loaded.
- That set the stage for Powell's grand slam to pull the Crusaders even with the Lions.
- Mars Hill regained the lead by scoring on a Crusader error and added a two-run home run in the fifth to take a 12-9 lead.
- Belmont Abbey responded in the eight with a six-run frame starting with a two-run single by Connor Tucker.
- Joe Whitaker and Burr both drew walks with the bases loaded that eventually gave Belmont Abbey the lead.
- Velotta capped off the scoring with a two-run single in his second at-bat of the inning.
- Thomas Paxton, Danny Glenos and Drew Stegura combined to pitch the final four scoreless innings by allowing just one hit between them.
- Glenos struck out three batters and earned his first win as a Crusader in the eighth while Stegura earned his first save of the season by closing out the ninth.
UP NEXT
- Belmont Abbey returns home to face Emmanuel in a three-game Conference Carolinas series starting at 5 p.m. Friday at Abbey Yard.