MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat baseball team began a 3-game Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) series with the Johnson University Royals Thursday afternoon at Newell Field in Montreat, N.C. After claiming a tight 3-2 win in game one, the Cavalier offense erupted for seven home runs and a season-high 20 hits in game two to close out the sweep, 14-0. With the wins, the hosts improved to 16-13-1 (8-5 AAC) on the year.
 
Johnson (14-13, 5-9 AAC) plated the opening run of the afternoon on a 2-out RBI single in the top of the third, but the Cavs came right back and turned their deficit into a lead during the ensuing half-inning. Manny Moore came around to tie the game on a wild pitch, and Zeb Marquis pushed across a run with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch. As a result, Montreat held a 2-1 advantage through three.
 
The Royals tied the ballgame in the top of the fifth thanks to a double off the wall in right center; however, once again, the visitors couldn't come up with the crucial shutdown frame. Mitch Ball lofted a solo shot over the fence in right to lead off the bottom half of the inning, giving the Cavaliers a 3-2 edge they never relinquished.
 
Daniel Willie, who entered the day eighth in the NAIA in strikeouts (60), racked up a dozen punchouts during his 6 1/3 innings of work. The Ooltewah, Tenn. native surrendered just two runs on the day, which proved good enough for his fifth win of 2024. Dalton Strickland, Matthew Rangel and Milo Trevino combined for 2 2/3 scoreless relief innings, and Trevino picked up his first save in a Montreat uniform.
 
Ball (2-3) and Richard Matos Delacruz (2-4) teamed up for half of the Cavs' eight hits, while Jaider Morelos batted a perfect 1-for-1 thanks to a single and three walks. Ball also scored multiple runs (2) in the victory, and the hosts' four pitchers racked up 15 strikeouts.
 
The Cavaliers wasted no time blowing the game open in the latter half of Thursday's doubleheader. Not only did Montreat's initial eight batters tally a hit, but the Cavs launched five home runs through three frames as they sprinted out to an 11-0 lead. Tommy Ramos, Caleb Abshier and Jeff Cardazzone homered during a 7-run first, Delacruz capped off a 3-run second and Ramos crushed another blast in the third.
 
Will Gamble and Milo Trevino clobbered the first home runs of their Cavalier careers in the fifth and sixth, respectively, bringing the hosts' homer total to seven and their lead to 14-0 through six. Meanwhile, Elian Cuevas dominated the Johnson lineup.
 
A native of San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, Cuevas hurled his first complete game as a Cav. The right-handed starter allowed just two hits and two walks during his seven innings, and he struck out seven batters while facing just three over the minimum. Between the offensive eruptions and Cuevas' gem, Montreat captured a 14-0 victory and a doubleheader sweep.
 
Eleven different Cavs registered a hit in game two, and six Montreat batters totaled multiple knocks. Both Ramos and Abshier went 3-for-3 at the plate, while Ramos also scored and drove in a trio of runs.
 
"Elian pitched a great game today, probably his best outing of the year," said head coach Jason Beck. "The guys came out and hit, and they swung the bat early in the count. This was the first time all year that we were able to put together pitching, defense and hitting. Hopefully we'll continue that Saturday and the rest of the conference schedule."
 
The Montreat baseball team concludes its series with the Royals Saturday afternoon. First pitch is currently scheduled for 2 p.m. at Big League Camp in Marion, N.C.