MARION, N.C.— Playing its first home game and initial conference game of the 2023 campaign, the Montreat baseball team took on the Bryan College Lions in the opening contest of a 3-game set. After a back-and-forth competition at Big League Camp in Marion, N.C., late scoring enabled the visitors to claim a 4-2 win, moving the Cavaliers to 3-8 overall and 0-1 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play.
 
Bryan (6-2) started the matchup off with a pair of runs in the top of the first before the Cavs tried to respond in the bottom of the frame. Though Montreat began the contest with two base knocks, the Cavaliers stranded the runners and trailed 2-0 through one.
 
Despite leaving two on base in the first, the Cavs struck in the second thanks to a single from Caleb Abshier, an error and an RBI groundout from Zeb Marquis.
 
After the Cavaliers halved their deficit, stellar pitching from Case Jaworski kept the home side in the hunt for a victory. The Highland, Mich. native worked through seven innings, striking out nine batters while giving up just five hits and one earned run. Jaworski retired 11 of the last 12 batters he faced.
 
Strong pitching allowed Montreat to knot the matchup at two in the fifth. A leadoff double by Necumba Booker Jr. set the table for the Cavs, who notched four hits in the inning. Following another hit by Marquis, Norman Kelly drove in Booker Jr. with the third straight hit for the team. A bunt single loaded the bases; however, the Lions' pitching prevailed to keep the score level through five.
 
Though the Cavaliers held tight defensively, back-to-back doubles in the eighth and a solo shot in the ninth secured the 2-run triumph for Bryan. Joe Tomasello and Caden Wright each pitched an inning in relief, surrendering one run each and striking out one batter.
 
Both teams notched eight hits, but 2-out hitting was key as the Lions hit .357 with two outs and Montreat hit .111 in the same situation. Kelly (2-4), Jaider Morelos (2-4) and Booker Jr. (2-3) all recorded multiple hits for the Cavaliers.
 
"They were really big with two outs. The game was decided by a couple of bounces and a couple of hits. They got those today and that was the difference," mentioned head coach Jason Beck.
 
Baseball continues its 3-game set with the Lions tomorrow. Coaches will check the conditions at Newell Field in the morning to determine whether the surface is playable. First pitch of game one will be at 11:00 a.m. if in Montreat or 4:00 p.m. if at Big League Camp. Be sure to check www.montreatcavaliers.com, @montreatcavs on Twitter or Montreat College Cavaliers on Facebook for schedule updates.