COLUMBIA, S.C.— The Montreat baseball team concluded its series with Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) foe, the Columbia International University Rams, on the road Saturday afternoon. With a thrilling come-from-behind 14-11 victory in the opening contest and a 9-0 defeat in game two, the Cavaliers moved to 17-16 (10-8 AAC) on the year.
CIU (8-20, 5-13 AAC) opened the initial matchup with three runs to lead 3-0 after a trio of frames; however, a double from
Isaac Castro plated the Cavs' first run of the ballgame in the fourth. Three more runs from the home side extended the Rams' advantage to five (6-1), but Montreat answered with as many runs in the top of the ensuing inning to stay within striking distance.
An RBI single from
Daniel Wetmore and five walks helped inch the Cavaliers closer, pulling the visitors within two after the top of the sixth. Despite the patience at the plate from the Cavs, Columbia International tallied three runs over the next two frames to lead 9-4 with two innings to play. Over the span, Montreat earned baserunners but failed to drive them in, stranding 14 runners across seven frames.
The bats then woke up, setting the table for an outstanding comeback. The Cavaliers registered 10 runs in the top of the eighth on six hits and an error to flip the script and hold a 14-9 advantage. A bases-loaded walk and a fielder's choice resulted in a pair of runs before
Stephen Karis,
Jaider Morelos,
Tarik Latchmansingh,
AJ Barrios and Wetmore all notched RBI hits to produce the offensive outburst.
Though the Rams grabbed two runs in the eighth,
Rawley Stinson shut CIU down in the ninth to seal the 3-run victory. Thanks to his 1-hit relief effort, Stinson picked up the save, while
Lane Sexton, who surrendered a hit but got the Cavaliers out of a jam in the seventh in his first appearance of the season, got the win.
Four Cavs registered multiple hits in game one, led by Latchmansingh's 4-for-6 showing with a team-best three RBIs. Wetmore (3-5) had multiple hits and multiple RBIs (2), and Morelos (2-7) and
Caleb Abshier (2-4) rounded out the Montreat batters with at least two hits of the squad's 15.
Pitchers dominated early in the second competition before the home team put up a crooked number in the fourth inning to go up 7-0. The Cavaliers struggled at the plate, registering a mere two hits entering the seventh and final inning.
CIU added another two runs to extend its edge to nine, and, although the Cavs registered their third hit of the game and loaded the bases in the seventh, the Rams closed out their 9-0 shutout win.
Cole Parker (1-1),
Will Gamble (1-3) and Latchmansingh (1-3) collected the hits for Montreat as the team was outhit 10-3 and left seven runners on base.
Harold Aguilera pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in relief.
Baseball will now face (RV) Reinhardt University in a home series next weekend. First pitch of Friday's game at Newell Field is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
