FLORENCE, S.C. — The Belmont Abbey baseball team extended its Conference Carolinas winning streak to six games as the Crusaders swept a doubleheader to complete a three-game sweep of UNC Pembroke Saturday afternoon at CarolinaBank Field.

The Crusaders used timely late-inning home runs to take the opener 3-1 before earning a 7-4 win in the series finale.

Connor Tucker was among the top perfomers for the Abbey offense, finishing with three hits and driving in four runs over the course of the two games.

Spencer Cipro and Joseph Hackmann both earned the wins for Belmont Abbey on the mound.

With Saturday's results, Belmont Abbey improves to 27-12 overall and 17-7 in Conference Carolinas play. UNC Pembroke is now 21-16 overall and 9-12 in the league.

GAME 1

• After a scoreless first inning, the Crusaders got on the board with Jackson Risk scoring on a wild pitch in the second inning. He led off the inning with a walk.
• Jack Boyles had the first hit of the game for the Abbey with a double in the second inning.
• The Braves answered with a solo home run in the third inning but Cipro was able to keep the Abbey in a 1-1 tie.
• UNCP had the bases loaded in the third but again Cipro was able to work his way out of the jam.
• The Crusaders had been held to just one hit in the first five innings but Tucker hit a go-ahead home run in the sixth to give the Abbey a 2-1 lead.
• Belmont Abbey kept the lead intact with a pair of diving catches in the outfield to keep the one-run inning.
• Todd Velotta gave Belmont Abbey an insurance run with a lead-off home run in the seventh to make it 3-1.
• Cipro earned his eighth win of the season by allowing just one run and six hits and two strikeouts.
• Thomas Paxton earned his fifth save with a scoreless seventh inning.

GAME 2

• Both teams were held scoreless over the first three innings with Belmont Abbey starting pitcher Ethan Wilson retiring 10 straight UNC Pembroke batters at one point.
• Wilson finished with six strikeouts and did not walk anyone in 5.2 innings.
• After UNC Pembroke got on the board in the fourth inning, Belmont Abbey responded with a bases-clearing triple from Connor Tucker in the fifth to make it 3-1.
• The Braves recaptured the lead in the sixth with a three-run frame. Hackmann came in relief of Wilson and kept Belmont Abbey within a run.
• Belmont Abbey took the lead for good in the seventh, scoring three runs and capitalizing on two UNC Pembroke errors.
• The Crusaders scored a run via a fielder's choice and error and took the lead scoring on a wild pitch.
• Joe Whitaker — who reached on a fielder's choice, scored on a single from Caleb Burr for a 6-4 lead.
• Connor Powell drove in the final run on an RBI groundout in the eighth inning.
• Layton Dickerson helped maintain the Abbey lead with 1.1 scoreless innings.
• UNCP had the tying run at the plate but Seth Edgerton recorded the final two outs to pick up his first save of the season.

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders return home to face Emory & Henry Tuesday in a mid-week contest.
• First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Abbey Yard.