HICKORY, N.C. — The Belmont Abbey softball team went on the road for the first time this season as the Crusaders took on regional foe Lenoir-Rhyne Wednesday afternoon at McCrorie Family Stadium.
The Crusaders battled but ended up getting swept in the doubleheader, falling 8-0 in five innings in the opener before an 8-5 loss in the nightcap.
Both teams are now 2-2 following Wednesday's contests.
THE OPENER
- After a scoreless first inning, Belmont Abbey had the bases loaded in the second inning but were unable to bring any runs across.
- Lenoir-Rhyne jumped ahead with a five-run frame in the bottom of the second and added three more in the third.
- The Crusaders had four hits in the opener, led by two from Megan Towery
- Casey Laing and Trinity Wall also had hits in the contest.
- Lilly Hartsell took the loss for the Crusaders. Erin Gill had three strikeouts in 2.1 innings of relief.
THE NIGHTCAP
- Belmont Abbey took an early lead after Alayna Patrick scored a run in the first thanks to an RBI single from Laing.
- The Bears pulled even thanks to a home run but the Crusaders responded with an RBI from Wall to bring in Ella Crowe.
- Crowe had two hits in the contest, including a double.
- Lenoir-Rhyne took the lead with a three-run third but the Crusaders pulled even again in the fourth.
- Sami Kirk took advantage of a Bears fielding error and two runs scored as a result to pull even at 4-4.
- An RBI single gave the Bears in the fifth and they extended their lead with a two-run sixth.
- The Crusaders tried to rally in the seventh as Alayna Patrick reached on a Bears error and later scored on an RBI double from Towery.
- Ella Crowe also finished with two hits in the contest.
- Sienna Garcia took the loss after starting the game and pitching four innings.
- Belmont Abbey had the bases loaded in the frame but the Bears were able to hold on.
UP NEXT
- The Crusaders will be back on the road to face Concord in a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. in Athens, West Virginia.
- The home doubleheader against Shaw scheduled for February 13 has been postponed to a later date.