MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.— The Montreat baseball team concluded its season-opening three-game series on Saturday against the St. Thomas University Bobcats, a team receiving votes in the preseason edition of the NAIA Baseball Coaches' Top 25 Poll. During the nine-inning affair down in Miami Gardens, Fla., the Cavaliers jumped out to a good-sized lead and held on late to capture their first win, 7-6. With the triumph, Montreat moved to 1-2 on the year.
For the third straight game, St. Thomas (2-1) started off the contest with a 1-0 lead thanks to a run in the bottom of the second inning. This time, however, the Cavs slugged back in a big way.
Montreat plated a trio of runs in both the fourth and fifth frames. Kaden Either and
Dean Davis notched RBI singles to right field, while
Justin Austin lofted a sacrifice fly to left field for the 3-1 lead through four. During the top of the fifth,
Connor Goff drove in a run before Austin pushed across two more via a single up the middle.
STU didn't waste any time cutting into its deficit. Two runs in the fifth and sixth innings pulled the home team within one of the visitors.
Daniel Wagner secured a critical insurance run during the seventh thanks to his two-out single. That knock proved to be important as the Bobcats scored an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth. St. Thomas couldn't muster any additional offense, though, and
Emilio Trevino slammed the door shut with a two-inning save for the 7-6 win.
"Today was a good weekend considering everything this team has been through," said head coach
Jason Beck. "It was good to finally get on the field and just focus on baseball. Hopefully we will continue to get better daily, and we are looking forward to next weekend."
Several Cavaliers delivered strong pitching performances to help seize the victory.
Dawson Yokley started on the mound, and he threw 3 1/3 innings of three-hit, one-run baseball.
Trevor Laughlin picked up the win with a scoreless 2/3 innings in relief.
Dalton Strickland racked up two punchouts in 1 1/3 innings, while Trevino did the same across the final two frames.
Offensively, the Cavs batted 12-for-36 (.333) as they outhit the Bobcats, 12-11. Goff (3-4) led all players with three hits and three runs scored.
Devon Smith (2-4) and
Tommy Ramos (2-5) also registered multi-hit afternoons. Austin paced all participants with three RBIs.
Montreat remains on the road next Friday for a nonconference series at St. Andrews University. The start time for first pitch in Laurinburg, N.C. is yet to be announced.
