MARION, N.C.— The Montreat baseball team concluded its Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) series against the Johnson University Royals Saturday afternoon. Following a doubleheader sweep on Thursday, the Cavaliers fell by a score of 6-1 in today's contest at Big League Camp, moving to 16-14-1 (8-6 AAC) on the season.
 
Both sides threatened in the first inning, and Montreat loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame; however, neither team could come up with the final hit to drive in baserunners to break the deadlock.
 
Ben Cornelius started on the mound for the Cavaliers, throwing five shutout innings, allowing just five hits and striking out four as the squads went into the seventh still scoreless.
 
Johnson (15-13, 6-9 AAC) failed to record a hit in the seventh, but three walks and two hit batsmen resulted in a 2-0 lead for the Royals. Though the Cavaliers answered in the bottom half of the frame thanks to Mitch Ball's RBI groundout to halve the deficit, four insurance runs from the visitors in the ninth sealed the 5-run competition's fate.
 
The Cavs and Royals each tallied seven hits, and both teams left at least 10 runners on base with the home side trailing 14-10 in the category. Individually, Elijah Baptist ended as the only Montreat player with multiple hits by going 2-for-3 at the plate.
 
Baseball now travels to Toccoa Falls College for a doubleheader on Tuesday. First pitch of game one in Toccoa Falls, Ga. is scheduled for 12 p.m.