BARBOURVILLE, Ky.— In the final matchup of the regular season, the Montreat baseball team routed the Union College Bulldogs on the road Friday afternoon, winning a mercy-rule shortened contest by a score of 21-2. With the sizable victory in the seven-inning affair, the Cavs claimed the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) series sweep and improved to 31-24 (13-17 AAC) on the season.
 
After pitching dominated the opening three innings, offense began to take over in the fourth. Chase Bruno notched an RBI hit that plated Daniel Wetmore to start the scoring in the bottom of the frame. Then, in the fifth, Wetmore drove in Rafael Padilla and Norman Kelly with a double to make the score 3-0 through five.
 
Though Union got a run back in the bottom of the inning, Montreat's bats caught fire over the ensuing two frames. In the sixth and seventh alone, the Cavaliers used 11 hits to score 18 runs and blow the game open.
 
Five free bases, three via hit batsmen and two on walks, as well as timely hits aided the Cavs in the sixth. Michael Bell doubled in Bruno as the initial four batters reached in the top of the inning. Following two hit batters and a balk, Kelly earned an RBI base on balls to make it 5-1. A pair of massive at-bats tallied the remaining five runs to be scored in the inning as Padilla cleared loaded bases with a double and Bruno reached for the second time in the frame to cap off a seven-run inning with a 2-RBI double to left center.
 
The visiting team then brought 15 players to the dish in the seventh to seal the explosive triumph. Montreat, who had nine different players record a double on the day, utilized four consecutive two-base hits to commence the 11-run frame. Noah Medina drove in two with the first of four straight doubles to grow the advantage to 12, while Kelly followed suit with a liner to left that scored Medina. Caden Wright collected a double before CJ Mack ended the string of two-base hits by bringing Kelly and Wright around.
 
As the hit parade continued, pitchers Tyson Cosgrove, Jared Drayton and Hayden Franklin each recorded the first hits of their respective careers. Drayton scored Mack with a single down the right field line, while Franklin cleared juiced bases with a double to the gap in left center. A pair of runs crossed on errors to conclude the 21-run performance.
 
Five Cavalier pitchers allowed only four Union hits through the seven frames. Noah Christopher got the start, throwing a hitless two innings. The remaining four pitchers each surrendered a mere hit through their time on the mound. Kadien Dean pitched an effective two frames without giving up a run, while Dayton Woods, Brandon Russell and Hiroki Shimazu all completed an inning.  
 
Montreat outscored the Bulldogs 40-4 over the three-game set, winning both of the two matchups originally scheduled as nine-inning competitions in seven frames by a combined 32 runs. On Friday, the Cavaliers went 13-for-27 (0.481) with runners on base and batted 0.478 (11-23) with runners in scoring position. Twelve players registered a hit in the 16-hit outburst, 10 players collected an RBI and seven finished with multiple runs batted in.
 
Baseball now plays in the opening round of the AAC Tournament, which is scheduled for Tuesday. Be sure to check montreatcavaliers.com for updates regarding time and other information.