Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Belmont Abbey College

The Official Website of Belmont Abbey Athletics
Todd Velotta
Conference Carolinas
10
Winner Belmont Abbey BAC 38-12
9
Francis Marion FMU 41-11
Winner
Belmont Abbey BAC
38-12
10
Final
9
Francis Marion FMU
41-11
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Belmont Abbey BAC 0 1 0 0 2 3 1 1 2 10 9 0
Francis Marion FMU 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 2 2 9 12 3

W: Cipro, Spencer (10-0) L: Robbie Jordan (10-2) S: Clarke, Wyatt (4)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Abbey Baseball Holds Off Francis Marion in Conference Tournament Thriller

GASTONIA, N.C. — The Belmont Abbey baseball team rallied from an early deficit and later held on to advance to the semifinals of the 2026 Conference Carolinas Baseball Tournament thanks to a 10-9 win over Francis Marion Friday evening at CaroMont Health Park.

The Crusaders earned their second win in as many days after rallying from a four-run deficit in the middle innings.

Todd Velotta led the way with three hits for Belmont Abbey while Jack Boyles and Caleb Burr had two each. Spencer Cipro earned the win and improved to 10-0 on the season after pitching six innings and Wyatt Clarke earned the save.

Belmont Abbey improves to 38-12 on the season and have won its last five games while Francis Marion is now 41-11 on the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The Crusaders fell behind early after a two-run home run from Francis Marion in the bottom of the first inning.
  • Belmont Abbey got on the board in the second inning when Jake Bidoglio reached on an error and drove in Burr. Burr led off the inning with a triple.
  • The Patriots scored a run each over the next three innings and Belmont Abbey was held to just one hit through four innings.
  • The Crusaders began to chip away in the fifth thanks to an RBI single from Matthew Fattore and a sacrifice fly from Joe Whitaker.
  • Belmont Abbey took the lead with a three-run sixth inning highlighted by an RBI triple from Jack Boyles.
  • Velotta also had an RBI double and Josh Wilson's sacrifice fly gave the Crusaders the lead.
  • The Crusaders scored runs in the seventh inning off a sacrifice fly from Bidoglio and an RBI groundout from Mason Janz.
  • Caleb Crain worked out of a bases loaded jam in the seventh inning to keep the Abbey ahead.
  • The Patriots hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning but Josh Wise was able to record the final out to keep the Crusaders ahead at 8-7.
  • Belmont Abbey scored a pair of vital insurance runs on an RBI double from Michael Fattore and a throwing error from the Patriots that scored Carter Bass.
  • Francis Marion did not go away quietly with another two-run home run but Wyatt Clarked got the final two outs to record the save and secure the win.
  • It is the first time since the 2017 season that Belmont Abbey has started the Conference Carolinas Tournament 2-0.

UP NEXT
  • Belmont Abbey will face No. 4 seed Young Harris in the winner's bracket game on Saturday afternoon.
  • First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at CaroMont Health Park in Gastonia.
  • The winner would need just one more win to earn the Conference Carolinas Tournament title.
Print Friendly Version
Belmont Abbey College loading logo