BLUEFIELD, Va.— The Montreat baseball team split an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader against the Bluefield University Rams Friday afternoon, taking the opener via a 6-1 score before losing in the series finale, 2-1. With the split in Virginia, the Cavaliers took the 3-game series and moved to 6-10 (3-3 AAC) on the season.
 
After a pair of scoreless innings to start game one, the Cavs put a crooked number on the board in the top of the third. Seven straight Cavaliers reached base safely to start the third frame, and three consecutive hits during that span plated five runs. Norman Kelly drove home Caleb Abshier with a bases-loaded single, and Montreat's RBI leader Jaider Morelos emptied the bases on a double to left field. Tarik Latchmansingh pushed across Montreat's fifth and final run of the inning with a single of his own.
 
Daniel Willie dominated the Rams in game one, allowing just one run across eight innings of work. The Ooltewah, Tenn. native surrendered eight hits and struck out eight batters as Bluefield advanced a runner past second base just three times against the Montreat ace.
 
Bluefield (6-5, 1-4 AAC) plated its lone run against Willie on a single in the sixth, but Abshier restored the Cavaliers' 5-run lead on a solo shot to left center in the eighth. Later, Joe Tomasello pitched a scoreless ninth to help the Cavs take the contest, 6-1, and clinch the series victory.
 
Kelly (3-5) and Latchmansingh (2-3) recorded multiple-hit efforts in game one as eight different Cavs registered a hit. Stephen Karis drew a team-high three walks.
 
Game two proved to be a pitchers' duel with both starters throwing at least six innings. An RBI double to center broke the scoreless deadlock in the bottom of the third and put the Rams up on Montreat by a run, 1-0.
 
The Cavaliers answered Bluefield with a run of their own in the following half-inning. Kelly opened the frame with a double, and back-to-back productive outs brought him home. Morelos bunted Kelly over to third base, and Latchmansingh drove him in on a sacrifice fly to right field.
 
Knotted at one, both starting pitchers continued to rack up outs; however, BU capitalized on a leadoff triple and drove in the go-ahead run on a groundout in the sixth.
 
Controversy ensued in the top of the seventh as Abshier's game-tying home run was wiped off the board after an umpire ruled that Abshier missed first base. Montreat still managed to load the bases with just one out, but the Cavaliers couldn't produce that final hit as they dropped the series finale, 2-1.
 
Ben Cornelius delivered six strong innings on the mound for his first complete game in a Montreat uniform. The Lake Zurich, Ill. native struck out five hitters and allowed just two runs during his quality start.
 
Kelly (3-4) notched three of the Cavs' four hits, and he scored their lone run of game two. Zeb Marquis (1-1) reached base safely in his three plate appearances with a single and two walks.
 
"Ben Cornelius threw a great game, as did Daniel Willie," said head coach Jason Beck. "The team really showed us a lot this weekend, and we're continuing to grow every series."
 
The Montreat baseball team heads to Knoxville, Tenn. for its next 3-game series at Johnson University (Tenn.). Game one of the conference series is slated for Friday at 11:00 a.m.