BELMONT, N.C. — Fresh after being named the Conference Carolinas Player of the Week,
Joe Whitaker continued his strong run of play as the No. 20 Belmont Abbey baseball team hosted No. 5 Catawba in a battle of top Southeast region rivals Tuesday at Abbey Yard.
Whitaker drove in all three Crusader runs and despite that and a strong pitching effort early, Belmont Abbey fell 8-3 to the Indians Tuesday.
The difference proved to be a five-run 11th inning for Catawba after Belmont Abbey rallied to tie the game in the eighth.
Belmont Abbey is now 7-2 following Tuesday's contest while Catawba is 8-1.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Crusaders got a good start on the mound from Carson Dahle, who went 4.2 scoreless innings and allowed just three hits and struck out two.
- After Matthew Fattore got the Abbey's first hit in the fourth, the Crusaders broke the deadlock with a two-run home run in the fourth Whitaker.
- Caleb Crain entered the game in the fifth and was able to work out of a bases-loaded jam to keep the game 2-0 in favor of the Abbey.
- He struck out a pair of batters in 2.1 innings of relief.
- Catawba rallied in the eighth with three runs to take the lead but Whitaker pulled the Abbey back even with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3-3.
- Michael Fattore had two hits, including a double to left field in the eighth inning.
- Belmont Abbey had the winning run on third base but Catawba held to send the game to extras.
- The Crusaders had two hits in the 10th, including a Whitaker single, but were turned away.
- Catawba broke the game with a five-run frame in the 11th.
- Collin Williams took the loss for the Crusaders on the mound.
UP NEXT
Belmont Abbey will host a key Conference Carolinas series against Mount Olive beginning Friday.
First pitch of the opener is scheduled for 4 p.m. from Abbey Yard.
