GASTONIA, N.C. — Joe Whitaker finished with three hits — including his 23rd home run of the season — as the run in 2026 Conference Carolinas Baseball Tournament concluded Sunday afternoon at CaroMont Health Park.
Despite the strong day at the plate from Whitaker, the Crusaders fell 11-3 to top-seed North Greenville in an elimination game on Sunday afternoon.
Belmont Abbey is now 38-14 on the season and awaits its NCAA Tournament fate. North Greenville was 47-9 following the contest. The Trailblazers went on to defeat Young Harris Sunday evening to force an if-necessary game Monday for the conference tournament championship.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After a scoreless first inning from Belmont Abbey starter Davin Miller-Madden, both teams scored in the second inning with home runs.
- Mason Janz robbed NGU's Josh Foulks of a home run with a leaping catch over the left-center field wall in the second inning.
- Michael Fattore's leadoff home run tied the game at 1-1 in the second.
- North Greenville took advantage of three Belmont Abbey errors over the next two innings and brought eight runs across during that span.
- Whitaker's home run came with one out in the fifth.
- The Trailblazers added a run in the seventh and the scoring closed with an RBI single from Whitaker to bring in Carter Bass, who led the inning off with a hit.
- Jack Boyles finished the day with two hits and two stolen bases.
UP NEXT
- Belmont Abbey will wait and see if they are selected for an at-large bid in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional.
- The selection show is scheduled for Sunday, May 10th at 10 p.m. on NCAA.com.
