KINGSPORT, Tenn.— Needing another win on Friday to stay alive at the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament, the sixth-seeded Montreat baseball team once again squared off against the No. 2-seeded Tennessee Wesleyan University Bulldogs at Hunter Wright Stadium in Kingsport, Tenn. Thanks to a quick start and a strong finish, the Cavaliers topped the 17^th-ranked Bulldogs, 6-5, and extended their postseason run for an additional day. With the win, Montreat also improved to 29-24-1.
 
Caleb Abshier put the Cavs in a good position early when he smoked a 2-out, 2-RBI double over the head of TWU's right fielder during the top of the first inning. A throwing error and a wild pitch tacked on two additional Montreat runs in the third, subsequently expanding the away side's advantage up to 4-0.
 
Tennessee Wesleyan (35-16) utilized back-to-back doubles to plate its initial run during the bottom of the third. Prior to those hits, Montreat starter Case Jaworski had retired the first seven Bulldog batters.
 
Jaider Morelos restored the 4-run edge during the following half inning thanks to his RBI groundout; however, the contest's designated home team erased that gap over the ensuing frames. The Bulldogs capitalized on a wild pitch and a throwing error to trim the scoring disparity to 5-3 in the fifth. One run in both the sixth and seventh innings then aided Tennessee Wesleyan in bringing the two sides level on the scoreboard.
 
Undeterred, the Cavaliers took advantage of a pair of walks in the eighth to regain the lead for good. Mitch Ball and Abshier drew free passes, and, after Zeb Marquis laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, Jeff Cardazzone plated the game-winning run via a groundout to third.
 
"We talk about doing the little things and the big things will work out—that's exactly what happened," said head coach Jason Beck. "We did the majority of the little things today, and they all added up to give us the victory."
 
Milo Trevino sealed the deal on the mound after getting the final out in the bottom of the seventh. The Dallas native retired all seven batters he faced as he struck out two Bulldogs for his second win of the day. Jaworski racked up seven Ks in his 5 1/3 innings of work, and Joe Tomasello bridged the gap with 1 1/3 relief innings.
 
"Honestly, I just wanted to come in and throw strikes because I trust everybody behind me," noted Trevino. "I felt good today, and I just tried to hit my spots the best I could."
 
Abshier (2-3, 2 RBIs) proved responsible for two of Montreat's five hits and half of its RBIs. Morelos and Cardazzone each picked up an RBI as well.
 
The Montreat baseball team returns to Kingsport, Tenn. tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. for one final matchup against No. 17 TWU. According to the AAC's sport policies, the winner of that contest will advance to the conference title game and clinch a spot in the 2024 NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round.