LAKE WALES, Fla.— The Montreat baseball team finished out its 4-game series against the Warner University Royals Saturday afternoon in Lake Wales, Fla. Playing its second non-conference doubleheader in as many days, the Cavaliers came up short in both contests, dropping 7-5 and 10-4 finals while falling to 4-8 on the year.
 
Jaider Morelos powered the Montreat offense in game one, plating all five runs during three different at-bats. In the top of the second, Morelos handed the visitors a 1-0 lead via his RBI groundout to second. After Warner seized its first advantage of the day with a 2-spot in the bottom of the third, Morelos then launched a 3-run blast over the left field fence to reclaim the lead at 4-2 during the ensuing half-inning.
 
Following another Royal run in the bottom of the fourth, Morelos wrapped up the Cavs' scoring during the initial half of Saturday's doubleheader. The Cartagena, Colombia native lined a single to left field in the sixth frame, driving home Caleb Abshier for the 5-3 edge; however, Morelos' five RBIs weren't enough to win the opener.
 
The hosts scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh, flipping their 2-run deficit into a 2-run lead (7-5). Montreat had a chance to eliminate the gap in the eighth when it loaded the bases with just one out, but a pair of flyouts ended the scoring threat and aided WU in capturing a 7-5 triumph.
 
Nick Kantzavelos threw a scoreless frame in relief after Daniel Willie struck out six Royals in his seven innings of work. Jeff Cardazzone (3-3), Manny Moore (2-5), Mitch Ball (2-3) and Morelos (2-4) combined for nine of the Cavaliers' 11 hits in game one.
 
Tommy Ramos put Montreat on top in game two with a sacrifice fly in the top of the first, but Warner (5-3) answered immediately with three runs on a trio of hits to lead 3-1 after one inning of play.
 
Ryan Keeley hurled a pair of scoreless frames in the second and third, which allowed Morelos to pull the Cavs within 3-2 thanks to his sixth RBI of the day, a run-producing single. Unfortunately for the visitors, the Royals responded in the bottom half of the inning once again. Four runs on four hits saw the home side jump out to a 5-run edge (7-2) with just three frames to go.
 
Three hits and two errors helped WU put the game away for good as the hosts pushed across three more runs in the fifth, expanding their lead out to 10-2. Montreat scored on a bases-loaded walk and a wild pitch in the top of the seventh, but the deficit proved too much to overcome. Warner notched the final out and collected the doubleheader sweep and series victory thanks to the 10-4 final.
 
Four different Cavaliers tallied a hit in game two, and Bryan Borrego tossed a scoreless inning out of the bullpen.
 
"Today was a tough one as we just ran out of gas," said head coach Jason Beck. "We rode our highs and lows too much instead of playing steady baseball. We must continue to work hard during practice to get better so that we can finish these kinds of series."
 
The Montreat baseball team begins Appalachian Athletic Conference action next Friday with a 9-inning road matchup versus the sixth-ranked Tennessee Wesleyan University Bulldogs. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. in Athens, Tenn.