KINGSPORT, Tenn.—  The Montreat baseball team competed in an elimination game at the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament Friday morning. Playing against the No. 10-seeded Union Commonwealth University Bulldogs, the sixth-seeded Cavaliers utilized four runs in the bottom of the ninth, including a 3-run walk-off double from Tommy Ramos to stay alive in the postseason with an 9-8 victory. With the win, the Cavs improved to 28-24-1.
 
Union Commonwealth (20-29) struck first thanks to one run in the initial half inning before adding three in the second to build a 4-0 advantage.
 
Ramos got the Cavaliers on the scoreboard with a solo shot, his 19^th of the season, in the bottom of the third prior to RBI hits from Jeff Cardazzone and Michael Bell in the fourth to trim the deficit to one (4-3).
 
The Bulldogs responded with a pair of their own in the ensuing frame; however, Manny Moore and Ramos delivered RBIs in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively, to cut the gap back down to 6-5.
 
Though Union extended its lead back out to three in the top of the ninth (8-5), the Cavs answered the insurance runs with offense of their own. Despite beginning the contest 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position, the home team on the scoreboard came through with clutch hitting in their final at-bat. With one out, three straight singles capped off by Bell's second RBI knock of the morning made it 8-6. Following a walk that loaded the bases, Ramos stepped up with two outs and delivered a bases-clearing double to right center that brought in three. Ramos ended the day going 3-for-6 with a trio of extra-base hits and five RBIs.
 
"I was looking for a fastball and something to hit hard the other way. I had been missing the other way the last couple of at-bats, so I was looking to drive something hard that way. I got the pitch and I didn't miss it," noted Ramos.
 
Offensively, Cardazzone concluded the game 4-for-5 at the dish, while Zeb Marquis scored twice in the come-from-behind triumph. On the mound, Elian Cuevas hurled 5 2/3 innings in relief, allowing only three hits and striking out five. Milo Trevino got the win by getting the Cavaliers out of a jam in the top of the ninth.
 
"We needed to get to the right guys. We weren't able to produce in situations where we needed to early, but I was proud that we kept our heads. We could've rolled over but instead came out on fire in the last inning. We have to continue to battle, taking every game one at a time," said head coach Jason Beck.
 
Baseball now plays No. 2 seed Tennessee Wesleyan at 4 p.m.