BELMONT, N.C. -- A pair of home runs capped late-inning rallies that lifted Belmont Abbey to sweep of Limestone in non-conference softball action Tuesday afternoon at Crusader Field. The Crusaders took the opening game 3-2 with a pair of runs in the sixth, then came from behind twice in the final four innings of the nightcap for a 6-5 victory in eight innings.
With the sweep, The Abbey improves to 8-2 overall, while the Saints fall to 4-4.
THE OPENER
- Kennedy Teasley's two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth erased a 3-2 deficit. The Saints had jumped out to the lead with two runs in the third, although The Abbey cut the deficit in half with a run in the bottom of the frame
- Kennedy finished the contest with two hits in three at-bats, also coming home on for the opening run.
- Lily Garnett-Brown also had two hits and an RBI.
- Lilly Hartsell pitched a complete game to improve to 3-0. She scattered seven hits and a walk wiith seven strikeouts.
THE NIGHTCAP
- Ava Elkins walked off on the first pitch she saw in the bottom of the eighth for the game-winner. She hit the scoreboard with two outs, driving in Maddie Phillips, who started on second with the international tiebreaker.
- Limestone had take the lead on a run in the top of the eighth.
- Earlier in the contest, the Crusaders trailed after a three-run fourth by Limestone. The frame was highlighted by back-to-back bases-loaded walks followed by a two-run single by McKenna Meadors.
- Belmont Abbey managed just five hits in the contest, singles by Sage Farmer, Sami Kirk, Trinity Wall and Meadors, plus Elkins' blast.
- Erin Gill (2-0) earned the win, retiring the only batter she faced in the eighth.
UP NEXT
- Belmont Abby stays at home with a doubleheader against Catawba next Monday.
- First pitch against the Indians is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Crusader Field.
