MARION, N.C.— The Montreat baseball team played host to the Fisher College Falcons Thursday night in a non-conference contest at Big League Camp in Marion, N.C. Behind three consecutive multi-run innings and a strong start from Case Jaworski, the Cavaliers had little trouble dispatching of the visitors, 9-3. With the win, the Cavs improved to 21-18 on the year.
 
Jaider Morelos opened the scoring Thursday night when he launched a solo shot down the right field line in the bottom of the first. The Cartagena, Colombia native's seventh homer of the season handed the hosts a 1-0 lead early in the ballgame.
 
Fisher (19-14) finally broke through against Jaworski after the Highland, Mich. native tossed three scoreless innings to start the contest. A leadoff walk came around to score via a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth, tying the game at one in the process; however, the Cavs immediately responded with a 2-out rally during the following half-inning. Isaac Castro doubled to start the rally, and, after a Daniel Wetmore walk, Michael Bell plated a pair to put Montreat back in front, 3-1.
 
Jeff Cardazzone started off a 2-run fifth inning for the Cavaliers with a leadoff blast to left field. Following a pair of singles off the bats of Morelos and Caleb Abshier, Norman Kelly blooped a single into center to expand the hosts' lead out to 5-1.
 
The Falcons utilized a 2-out double to trim a run off their deficit in the sixth (5-2), but the Cavs notched their third consecutive 2-run frame in the bottom of the inning thanks to a throwing error and a double-steal attempt. With just three frames to go, the hosts held a 7-2 lead over the visitors.
 
Fisher tallied a solo home run in the seventh, but that was the final blemish delivered to Jaworski's final stat line. In his 11^th start of the season, Jaworski threw seven complete frames, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out a baker's dozen. With 13 punchouts, Jaworski now ranks second in the NAIA with 95 strikeouts on the season.
 
Joe Tomasello slammed the door on Fisher's potential rally in the eighth when he came in and struck out a batter to leave the bases loaded. Montreat then tacked on two more unearned runs courtesy of a dropped flyball and RBI hits from Elijah Baptist and Abshier to see out a 9-3 non-conference victory.
 
Morelos (2-4), Abshier (2-5), Kelly (2-4), Castro (2-4) and Wetmore (2-3) all registered 2-hit performances in the win, while Rawley Stinson, Tomasello and Tyler Best combined for two scoreless innings in relief.
 
The Montreat baseball team is slated to continue its non-conference series with Fisher tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. in Marion, N.C; however, time and location are subject to change due to impending inclement weather. Be sure to check www.montreatcavaliers.com for schedule information.