TIGERVILLE, S.C. — The Belmont Abbey baseball team earned a Conference Carolinas series win over No. 1 North Greenville with a Saturday doubleheader split of the Trailblazers. The Crusaders rallied in the seventh inning of the opener for a 6-2 win before falling 17-10 in the series finale.
Joe Whitaker finished with five hits on the day, including two home runs in the series finale, while
Spencer Cipro pitched a complete game in the opener to pick up his fifth win of the season.
With Saturday's results, Belmont Abbey is now 16-8 overall and 13-5 in Conference Carolinas play while North Greenville is 20-6 overall and 11-4 in the league.
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME 1
- Just like Friday, the Crusaders and Trailblazers were locked in a pitcher's duel early with both teams accounting for just two hits over the first four innings.
- Joe Whitaker and Connor Paul accounted for both hits for the Abbey.
- The Crusaders broke through for the first run of the game on an RBI groundout from Matthew Fattore to bring in Jack Boyles.
- Paul added to the lead with a solo home run in the next at bat.
- North Greenville pulled even with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth.
- After a scoreless sixth inning, Belmont Abbey took the lead when Paul reached on a fielder's choice and an ensuing Trailblazers error.
- The Crusaders pushed the lead further with a two-run single from Caleb Burr and an RBI single from Joe Whitaker.
- North Greenville got runners on base with two on in the seventh but Spencer Cipro was able to force consecutive groundouts to end the game.
- Cipro pitched his second complete game of the season and improved to 5-0 on the season with two runs on five hits and strikeouts while allowing just one walk.
GAME 2
- The Crusaders jumped out to a good start thanks to a solo home run from Whitaker and an RBI single from Carter Bass in the second inning.
- Belmont Abbey added four more runs in the third starting with a home run from Matthew Fattore and a two-run double from Whitaker.
- The inning was capped off with a sacrifice fly from Whitaker.
- North Greenville added a run in the third inning before the Crusaders added another two-run home run from Paul in the fourth.
- The Trailblazers rallied with an nine-run fourth inning followed by four more in the fifth.
- A Whitaker home run in the seventh and a sacrifice fly from Fattore in the eighth capped the scoring for the Crusaders.
- NGU added three more runs in the seventh.
- Whitaker finished with three hits in the second game while Jacob Steinberg and Bass had two hits each.
UP NEXT
- Belmont Abbey returns home to face No. 12 Lenoir-Rhyne Tuesday.
- First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Abbey Yard.