BELMONT, N.C. -- Sienna Garcia pitched a complete-game five hitter and drove in a run in her first at-bat of the season, leading Belmont Abbey to a split of a non-conference doubleheaders with Tusculum Saturday afternoon at Crusader Field. The Pioneers took the first game 1-0, before the Crusaders responded with a 4-3 victory in the nightcap.
With the results, The Abbey stands at 6-10, while Tusculum is 6-8.
THE OPENER
- Belmont Abbey managed just two hits -- both doubles -- off Tusculum pitcher Chelsey Stonesifer (5-3).
- Alayna Patrick doubled in the third and Laing doubled in the sixth.
- The Pioneers manufactured in the only run in the fifth with a one-out walk, an infield single and a wild pitch.
- Torey Cagno (1-1) took the hard-luck loss, allowing just hits over 5.0 innings pitched. She struck out three in her first career start.
THE NIGHTCAP
- Hannah Jane Gard had a two-hit game, doubling two runs in the third after singling in the second.
- Megan Towery, who had her season-long, 14-game hitting streak snapped in the first game, homered to left field in the fifth for the game-winning run.
- Garcia doubled down the right field line in the bottom of the second to tie the score at 1-1. In the circle, she allowed just five hits and walk, while striking out five. She improves to 4-4.
UP NEXT
- Belmont Abbey opens Conference Carolinas play on Tuesday.
- The Crusaders travel to Northwest Division rival King for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
