BELMONT, N.C. — The No. 13 Belmont Abbey baseball team found itself in a slugfest against No. 16 Young Harris in the opening game of a pivotal Conference Carolinas series Friday at Abbey Yard.

Caleb Burr hit a grand slam while Joe Whitaker and Michael Fattore added home runs but it was the Mountain Lions who came away with a 10-9 victory over the Crusaders.

With Friday's result, Belmont Abbey is now 32-10 on the season while Young Harris is 32-12. Both teams have 22-6 records in Conference Carolinas play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Whitaker got the scoring started with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning.
• Young Harris took the lead with home runs in the second and third innings.
• Belmont Abbey had a breakthrough in the third inning with a six-run frame highlighted by a grand slam from Burr.
• The Mountain Lions answered with a grand slam in the fourth inning.
• Ethan Yarbrough entered the game in relief and retired the first two batters he faced.
• The Crusaders regained the lead in the fifth with a sacrifice fly from Boyles.
• After Young Harris tied the game in the sixth, Belmont Abbey regained the lead with an RBI single in the seventh from Todd Velotta.
• The Mountain Lions took the lead in the eighth inning with two runs in the frame.
• Velotta got on with a two-out single in the ninth but the Crusaders were unable to score the tying run.
• Mason Janz also had a two-hit day for the Abbey as well.

UP NEXT

• Belmont Abbey plays its final two home games of the season on Saturday at Abbey Yard.
• First pitch is scheduled for 12 noon.
• 17 seniors will be recognized in a pre-game ceremony as part of Senior Day.