MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat baseball team jumped back into non-conference action Monday afternoon as it welcomed the Bob Jones University Bruins to Newell Field for the first of two contests between the squads this year. In the Cavaliers' half of the home-and-home set, Montreat coupled a pair of 4-run innings with strong team pitching to cruise past the visitors, 8-2, and improve to 11-13 on the year.
After a scoreless first, the Cavs broke the deadlock with a 4-run frame in the bottom of the second. The initial three Montreat batters registered extra-base hits, and the first five reached safely to open the inning.
Richard Matos Delacruz launched a solo shot over the fence in center, and
Collin Nelson doubled home another run two hitters later.
Manny Moore and
Jaider Morelos stole home on a pair of double steals in the frame, pushing the lead out to 4-0 through two.
Bob Jones (2-12) halved its deficit during the ensuing half-inning, but that proved to be all the Bruins could muster against
Elian Cuevas. A native of San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, Cuevas racked up nine strikeouts across his five frames on the mound while surrendering just three hits.
Hoping to land the knockout blow, the Cavaliers came up with just that in the bottom of the sixth.
Jonathan Gonzalez pinch-hit with the bases loaded, and he clobbered a grand slam to left for the 8-2 advantage.
Gonzalez's bases-clearing blast ultimately put the game out of reach as BJU couldn't scratch anything across against the Montreat bullpen.
Nick Kantzavelos,
Dalton Strickland,
Milo Trevino and
Tyler Best each hurled a shutout inning of relief to close out an 8-2 non-conference victory at Newell Field.
Cuevas picked up his first win as a Cav, while both Morelos (4-4) and Delacruz (2-5) each tallied multiple hits. Gonzalez (4) was the only Montreat hitter with more than one RBI, and Morelos (2) proved the lone Cavalier to score multiple runs.
"Today was a good day to get back into rhythm," said head coach
Jason Beck. "The guys had the opportunity to shake some rust off and get some needed at-bats. It was good to see some guys come around, but we still have work to do. Overall, a win is a win and we're happy to get back on track."
The Montreat baseball team continues non-conference play later this week with a 3-game series at Voorhees University. First pitch on Friday is slated for 1 p.m. in Denmark, S.C.
