MARION, N.C.— After claiming both games of the doubleheader on Friday, the Montreat baseball team attempted to capture its first series sweep of the season Saturday afternoon versus the Truett McConnell University Bears. Playing at Big League Camp in Marion, N.C. for the final contest of the 3-game Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) set, the Cavaliers utilized a dominant pitching performance and four home runs to cruise past the visitors, 8-3, and improve to 8-10 (4-2 AAC) on the year.
The hosts opened the scoring in the bottom of the second after a scoreless first inning.
Mitch Ball drew a leadoff walk and subsequently swiped second base, setting up
Manny Moore's RBI single that handed the Cavs a 1-0 lead.
Montreat's initial five hitters reached safely in the fourth, with three of those baserunners ultimately coming around to score.
Caleb Abshier plated a pair thanks to his 2-run shot down the right field line, and Moore touched home just a few batters later via a wild pitch.
Michael Bell crushed a solo home run to right field merely two frames later, giving the home team a 5-0 edge through six.
Daniel Willie completely shut down the Truett McConnell (7-10, 1-5 AAC) offense through the first six innings. The Bears managed to score on a 2-run homer in the top of the seventh, but that proved to be all the visitors could muster against the Ooltewah, Tenn. native. Willie hurled a season-high eight innings, surrendering just five knocks while striking out 13 TMU hitters.
Tommy Ramos pulled a run back in the bottom of the seventh on a solo blast over the fence in left field, and Moore extended the lead out to 8-2 when he clobbered a 2-run home run in the same direction. The Bears pushed one final run across in the ninth, but the damage was done.
Ryan Keeley recorded the last out, and the Cavaliers wrapped up their 3-game sweep, 8-3.
"One of the things we talked about all week was how good teams will win series and great playoff teams will sweep series," said head coach
Jason Beck. "That was a goal for us. We wanted to be able to do that to a team. We feel like we're capable of doing that on a weekly basis with the staff and team we have."
Five different Cavs tallied multiple hits in the victory, led by Moore's 3-for-4 showing. Moore (3 RBIs) and Abshier (2 RBIs) drove in several runs, while Ball (3) and Moore (2) scored numerous times.
The Montreat baseball team continues conference action next Friday when it begins a 3-game series at Kentucky Christian University. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. in Grayson, Ky.
