KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — After falling behind early, the Belmont Abbey baseball team rallied in a big way to earn a 10-4 victory Tuesday evening over No. 6 Catawba at Atrium Health Ballpark.
Trailing 4-0 early in the contest, the Crusaders came back thanks in large part to a five-run eighth inning bookended with a run in the seventh and four more in the ninth.
Jack Boyles — who had the game-tying hit in the eighth — and
Connor Powell led the way offensively with three hits each while
Carter DuHaime's double to center field put the Crusaders ahead for good.
Seth Edgerton picked up his first win of the season in relief for the Crusaders while
Ethan Wilson recorded five strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work.
Belmont Abbey improves to 21-11 on the season to split the season series with the Indians. Catawba is now 23-8 on the year.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Powell had two hits in his first two plate appearances to get the offense going for the Abbey.
- Catawba struck first with a run in the first and three in the second.
- The Belmont Abbey comeback began in the seventh inning thanks to back-to-back singles from Jackson Risk and Jack Boyles.
- Risk scored on an RBI single from Michael Fattore.
- Catawba had two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh but Wilson and Edgerton combined to keep the deficit at three entering the eighth inning.
- Powell reached base for the fourth time after being hit by a pitch and later scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-2.
- That later set the stage for Boyles' two-run single to pull the game even.
- DuHaime kept the surge going with a two-run double to deep center field.
- Catawba again had two runners on base in the eighth but Edgerton recorded a strikeout to keep the Abbey lead at two runs.
- Belmont Abbey further broke the game open in the seventh thanks to an RBI single by Jackson Risk and later an RBI from DuHaime on a bases-loaded walk.
- Carter Bass, who entered the game as a defensive replacement, added two more insurance runs with a two-run single.
- Drew Stegura closed out the game with a strikeout and turning a double play in the ninth inning.
- It is the 16th time this season that Belmont Abbey has recorded double-digit hits.
UP NEXT
- The Crusaders return home for a three-game Conference Carolinas series against Chowan starting on Friday.
- First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. from Abbey Yard.