BELMONT, N.C. — The Belmont Abbey baseball team used a six-run surge in the second inning and some clutch pitching down the stretch as the Crusaders opened its series with top-ranked North Greenville with a 10-8 victory Friday at Abbey Yard.
The Crusaders had four players with multiple hits, including three from
Connor Tucker.
Caleb Burr,
Jack Boyles and
Michael Fattore each had two hits for the Abbey.
Drew Stegura earned the win after throwing a career-high 123 pitches in 6.1 innings of work while
Thomas Paxton recorded his second save. Stegura struck out five in the win.
With the win, Belmont Abbey is now 11-5 overall and 5-2 in Conference Carolinas. North Greenville is 15-2 overall with an identical 5-2 league mark.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams recorded a hit in the first inning, highlighted by a triple from Tucker in the bottom of the frame.
- Michael Fattore got the scoring started with a two-run home run to left field as part of a six-run inning. Jackson Risk and Burr each had two-run singles to extend the Abbey lead.
- North Greenville chipped away at the lead with three runs in the fourth and one in the fifth but Belmont Abbey was able to hold off NGU taking the lead.
- Boyles provided an offensive boost in the sixth inning with a bases-clearing double to make it 9-4 in favor of the Crusaders.
- North Greenville got within a run and had the tying run on second base but the Crusaders were able to force a ground ball out to maintain the lead.
- Paxton entered the game in the eighth inning and recorded two strikeouts with two runners on to help the Abbey keep the lead.
- Burr's two-out solo home run provided a valuable insurance run for Belmont Abbey in the bottom of the eighth.
- With the tying run at the plate, Paxton recorded his fourth and final strikeout to cap off the Belmont Abbey win.
UP NEXT
- The series concludes with a doubleheader on Saturday from Abbey Yard.
- The first pitch is scheduled for a 12 noon start.
