BELMONT, N.C. — The Belmont Abbey baseball team put together a strong offensive showing as the Crusaders opened its Conference Carolinas series with a 12-8 victory over Emmanuel Saturday evening at Abbey Yard.
The Crusaders were able to erase an early three-run deficit over the span of three innings and used a five-run seventh inning to give enough cushion to earn the win.
Connor Tucker extended his hitting streak to 14 games with another three-hit day that included his fourth home run of the season.
Garrett Browder and
Todd Velotta had two hits each for the Abbey as part of a 12-hit day for the team.
Josh Collett earned the win for the Crusaders with his work over seven-plus innings.
Belmont Abbey improves to 14-12 overall, 10-6 in Conference Carolinas play. Emmanuel is now 17-13 overall, 6-7 in the league.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Emmanuel got on the board with a bases-clearing double in the first inning.
- The Crusaders got on the board with a pair of runs in the second inning thanks to an RBI double from Jake Andriole as well as Velotta two batters later.
- Tucker's solo home run in the third tied the game up for the Crusaders and Caleb Burr's two-run homer gave the Abbey the lead in the fourth.
- Carter DuHaime extended the Crusader lead with a sacrifice fly in the sixth to score Tucker who led the inning off with a double.
- After a three-run first inning, Collett only allowed three hits over the next six innings.
- Belmont Abbey had its breakthrough inning in the seventh with five runs on two hits.
- The first six batters reached safely as the Crusaders scored runs on an RBI single from DuHaime and consecutive bases-loaded walks from Andriole and Burr.
- Velotta and Connor Powell also drove in runs in the inning.
- Emmanuel attempted to rally in the eighth but the Crusaders turned a double play with the bases loaded to keep the Lions in check.
- Justin Herrera added another insurance run in the eighth with an RBI single to score Browder from first base.
- The Lions added two more runs in the ninth before the Crusaders were able to seal the win.
UP NEXT
- The Crusaders conclude the series with a doubleheader against Emmanuel starting at 2 p.m. Monday at Abbey Yard.
- Monday will mark two of four games over the next three days scheduled for the team before the Easter break.