MURFREESBORO, N.C. — The Belmont Abbey baseball team broke through offensively in the final Conference Carolinas series of the regular season Friday as the Crusaders swept Chowan in a doubleheader Friday afternoon at Hawkins Field.
The Crusaders won the opening game 16-0 while following that up with a 26-1 victory in the second game of the doubleheader.
Belmont Abbey improves to 35-12 overall and 25-7 in Conference Carolinas play. Chowan is now 4-34 overall and 4-28 in league play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME 1
- After a scoreless first inning, the Crusaders got on the board with a pair of runs in the second when Jacob Steinberg and Jack Boyles drove in runs.
- Caleb Burr and Michael Fattore drove in three runs between the two of them in the third inning.
- Belmont Abbey added four more runs in the fourth and one more in the fifth to make it 10-0.
- Matthew Fattore and Mason Janz each had three hits and drove in three runs for the Abbey.
- Drew Stegura put together an outstanding start in his final regular season start by pitching six shutout innings and striking out eight.
- Caleb Crain, Jacob Williams and Quinn Benner each pitched an inning of relief for the Crusaders.
GAME 2
- The Crusaders jumped out to a fast start with a two-run home run from Joe Whitaker, his 21st of the season.
- Michael Fattore drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk that was followed by a grand slam from Jake Bidoglio.
- The Crusaders broke the game open with a three-run third inning and a nine-run fourth inning highlighted by a two-run home run from Bidoglio.
- Spencer Cipro put together another quality start for Belmont Abbey, pitching five shutout innings and striking out two and forcing nine groundouts.
- After Chowan scored in the sixth, Belmont Abbey added a seven-run frame in the seventh highlighted by a three-run double from Brady Roberts.
- Collin Williams and Ashton Plyler each pitched an inning of relief to close out the game.
UP NEXT
- The series and the regular season concludes with a final game against the Hawks.
- The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Hawkins Field.