KINGSPORT, Tenn.— The Montreat baseball team suffered its first defeat in the 2023 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Baseball Tournament Thursday afternoon, dropping a 20-4 ballgame against the (RV) Reinhardt University Eagles in seven innings. With the loss, the Cavaliers fell to 27-23 on the year.
 
Reinhardt (33-16) landed the initial few blows as the Eagles plated a trio of runs in both the first and third innings to own a 6-0 lead over Montreat. An RBI single and a 2-run shot handed the home side a 3-0 edge before an out was recorded, and, after Case Jaworski struck out five consecutive hitters in the first and second, RU pushed three more across in the third behind a pair of 2-out run-producing hits.
 
While the Cavs sent the minimum to the plate through four frames, the Eagles tacked on four insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth. Without a hit or an error, Reinhardt grew its advantage on the scoreboard up to 10 by scoring on a pair of wild pitches, as well as both a walk and a hit-by-pitch with the bases full.
 
Norman Kelly notched the Cavaliers' first hit of the day with a 1-out single in the top of the fifth. Just two batters later, Stephen Karis launched a 2-run rocket over the left field fence to get the visitors on the board; however, RU came right back with eight runs of its own during the following half-inning to establish its largest lead of the day, 18-2.
 
Both teams wrapped up the scoring with a pair of runs in the sixth. For Montreat, Will Gamble singled in a run while another Cavalier came home on a double play. In the bottom half of the inning, the Eagles utilized a trio of hits to restore their 16-run edge and ultimately take the contest by a 20-4 final.
 
Kelly (2-2) reached base safely three times and was the only Montreat hitter to register multiple knocks, while Karis (1-3, HR, 2 RBIs) was the lone Cav to drive in more than one run. Harold Aguilera hurled a scoreless 0.2 innings of relief in the defeat.
 
With the loss, the Montreat baseball team now plays an elimination game against the No. 19-ranked Bryan College Lions tomorrow morning. First pitch is slated for 9:00 a.m. at Hunter Wright Stadium in Kingsport, Tenn.