MARION, N.C.— The Montreat baseball team opened its Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) slate on Thursday with a twin bill against the No. 1-ranked Tennessee Wesleyan University Bulldogs. Utilizing a pair of seven-inning triumphs, the visitors bested the Cavaliers by final scores of 10-0 and 8-1. With the defeats, Montreat dropped to 3-9 (0-2 AAC).
Merritt Evans started on the mound in game one, throwing a quick 1-2-3 frame on just a handful of pitches. Tennessee Wesleyan (8-2, 2-0 AAC) did some damage in the second and third innings, however. A sacrifice fly and an RBI triple had the Bulldogs up 2-0 after two, and a pair of two-run shots pushed the visitors' lead to 6-0 through three.
Justin Austin drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the fourth, marking the first time a Cav reached base safely during the opener. Montreat's first hit came an inning later on a
Dawson Bryant batted ball through the right side.
TWU scored in three consecutive frames, the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, to extend its lead out to 10-0.
Manny Moore singled in the bottom half of the seventh, but a double play and a strikeout ended game one in run-rule fashion.
The Bulldogs outhit the Cavaliers, 14-3, in the opener. Austin, Moore and Bryant combined for the home side's three knocks. Evans,
Trevor Laughlin and
Isaac Vasquez teamed up to pitch seven innings.
Like the initial matchup, Tennessee Wesleyan opened the scoring account following a scoreless frame. An RBI single and a wild pitch put the visitors on top in the second, 2-0. That marked the first of five consecutive innings in which the Bulldogs pushed across at least one run.
Down 3-0 in the bottom of the third, Montreat pulled a run back to cut into the gap.
Zeb Marquis, Austin and
Jaider Morelos notched three straight singles to put the Cavs on the board.
Thanks to its stretch of offensive production coupled with another strong start on the bump, TWU managed to keep the hosts quiet at the plate while putting up eight runs of its own. As the final out was recorded, Tennessee Wesleyan finished up an 8-1 win and a doubleheader sweep.
Seven different Cavaliers registered a hit during game two. Morelos tallied the lone RBI, while Marquis scored the one run.
Nate Kiser tossed a scoreless inning in relief to shut down the Bulldogs in the seventh.
Montreat and Tennessee Wesleyan wrap up their three-game series tomorrow afternoon at Big League Camp. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Marion, N.C.
