MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat baseball team began its Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) series with the Truett McConnell University Bears at Newell Field Friday afternoon. With a 4-2 victory in game one and an 11-5 triumph in game two, the Cavaliers picked up their first doubleheader sweep of the season to improve to 7-10 overall and 3-2 in the AAC.
 
After Truett McConnell (7-9, 1-4 AAC) notched a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Cavaliers answered in the opening contest. Montreat's leadoff batter reached base in each of the initial four frames, but the offense broke through in the third. Collin Nelson and Issac Castro used a single and walk to get runners on before Zeb Marquis blasted his fourth home run of the year to center to give the Cavs a 3-1 edge through three innings.
 
Though the Bears pulled within one thanks to an RBI hit in the top of the fifth, the Cavaliers tallied a run of their own in the bottom of the frame. Jeff Cardazzone reached safely for the second time and Tommy Ramos doubled in Cardazzone's courtesy runner, Elijah Stifter, to reestablish the 2-run advantage.
 
Montreat's offense registered just six hits; however, the Cavs ended with four extra-base hits. Mitch Ball concluded with a pair of hits (2-4) for the home side. On the mound, Case Jaworski recorded a quality start, pitching 6 1/3 innings while giving up just seven hits and two runs with seven strikeouts. In relief, Joe Tomasello threw a perfect 1 2/3 frames, including four consecutive strikeouts, before Elian Cuevas collected his first save with a hitless ninth inning in the 2-run triumph.
 
Like it did in game one, TMU struck to go up 1-0 in the top of the first of the latter contest. The Cavaliers immediately answered with an RBI single in the bottom of the frame before plating four in the second. Five hits and two Truett McConnell errors drove in the four runs as Montreat led 5-1 through two. The Cavs then made it three consecutive innings with runs as Andres Balart hit a solo shot to right in the third to make it 6-1.
 
Following another Bears miscue that extended the Cavaliers' advantage to 7-1 in the fifth, TMU cut its deficit to just two (7-5) with a 4-run frame. Despite the momentum shift, Montreat utilized a 4-spot of its own to secure the doubleheader sweep. A 2-run blast from Tommy Ramos in addition to RBI hits from Manny Moore and Balart rounded out the scoring as the Cavs sealed their 11-5 victory.
 
Offensively, Montreat outhit Truett McConnell 14-8 and capitalized on four TMU mistakes. Ball (4-4), Balart (3-4), Ramos (2-4) and Moore (2-4) all finished with multiple hits, while Moore (3), Marquis (3) and Balart (2) scored more than once. Balart, Ball and Ramos each drove in a pair of runs in the matchup.
 
On the mound, Ryan Henrickson collected his first win of the season by going 5 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and striking out four. Nick Kantzavelos got two outs without giving up a run, while Milo Trevino pitched a perfect seventh frame in the triumph.

"Today was a good day. The guys fought hard to complete a doubleheader, which was our goal. We need to be a bit more consistent at the plate, but we also showed we can win a close game. The pitching was good and carried us," said head coach Jason Beck.
 
The Montreat baseball team completes its series with Truett McConnell at Big League Camp in Marion, N.C. tomorrow at 12 p.m.