MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat baseball team wrapped up its 3-game Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) series against the Union Commonwealth University Bulldogs Saturday afternoon, playing a pair of contests at Newell Field in Montreat, N.C. Daniel Willie accumulated the 400^th strikeout of his Cavalier career during game one's 11-0 7-inning shutout, and the hosts closed out the doubleheader and series sweep with a 13-1 triumph in game two. Montreat improved to 23-19-1 (13-10 AAC) with the victories.
 
A trio of unearned runs put the Cavs in the driver's seat early in game one. Batting in the bottom of the second, Michael Bell broke the scoreless deadlock via an RBI single to left, while Kaden Ethier plated a pair thanks to his double down the right field line. Ethier also delivered an RBI groundout two innings later as the hosts maintained a 4-0 edge through four frames.
 
The bottom of the sixth saw Montreat put the initial contest away for good. Seven Cavaliers scored in the inning as six different batters notched an RBI. Coupled with Willie's dominance and efficiency on the mound, the Cavs ultimately cruised to an 11-0 7-inning triumph in the opener.
 
Willie needed just 83 pitches to throw seven shutout frames, surrendering only five hits and no runs in the effort. The Ooltewah, Tenn. native prevented the Bulldogs from reaching second base safely until the final inning, and he struck out eight batters during the win. Willie, who already has the most strikeouts in program history, recorded the 400^th of his Cavalier career with his third punchout of the day.
 
Hunter Furches led all players with a perfect 4-for-4 showing at the plate in game one. Bell (2-3) also tallied multiple base knocks as the hosts outhit UCU, 12-5. Ethier (3 RBIs) and Bell (2 RBIs) drove in several runs, while Bell and Furches each scored twice. In total, nine different Cavs scored in the opener.
 
Montreat's bats remained hot in game two, scoring in five of its six innings at the dish. Tommy Ramos' infield single handed the Cavs a 1-0 lead just four batters in, and another runner crossed moments later via a double play. After the second frame, the home side's lone scoreless inning at bat, Ramos extended the lead to 3-0 thanks to his team-leading 15^th homer of the year.
 
A trio of run-producing doubles from Jaider Morelos, Mitch Ball and Caleb Abshier highlighted a 6-run fourth that vaulted the Cavaliers out to a 9-0 lead. Union Commonwealth (17-21, 10-14 AAC) hit a solo shot in the top of the fifth to score its lone run of the day, but Montreat answered with a pair of 2-run frames to round out the scoring.
 
Case Jaworski had little issue preserving the lead as the Bulldogs managed to muster just four hits in his five innings pitched. The Highland, Mich. native picked up his third win of 2024 as he allowed merely one run while striking out six batters. Tyler Best and Joe Tomasello each hurled a scoreless relief frame to conclude the 13-1 win.
 
Outhitting the visitors 13-5 as a team, five different Cavs rattled off exactly two hits. Ball (3 RBIs), Ramos (2 RBIs) and Collin Nelson (2 RBIs) pushed across multiple runs, while Morelos scored a team-high three times in game two.
 
The Montreat baseball team heads to Greenville, S.C. Tuesday night for its final non-conference matchup of the regular season. First pitch between the Cavaliers and the Bob Jones University Bruins is slated for 6 p.m.