MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat baseball team continued its five-game homestand on Friday with an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) twin bill against the Kentucky Christian University Knights. Behind a pair of 6-4 and 5-3 victories, the Cavaliers clinched the series ahead of tomorrow's finale while improving to 9-10 (5-3 AAC) on the year.
Kentucky Christian (7-6, 1-4 AAC) scored the initial three runs in game one, plating a pair in the first while pushing another across in the top of the third. Montreat battled back in the bottom of the third, however, utilizing four consecutive hits to put up four runs.
Devon Smith began the third with a bloop double. Following a bunt single from
Jayden Cummings,
Dawson Bryant registered a two-run knock to pull the hosts within a run. One batter later,
Justin Austin deposited a ball over the fence in right center, tacking on two more to put the Cavs on top, 4-3.
Jaider Morelos added to Montreat's lead with a two-run blast during the fifth frame. From there,
Merritt Evans and
Logan Strickland did the rest.
Evans recorded his longest start in a Cavalier jersey, throwing 8 2/3 innings. The Rincon, Ga. native picked up his first win thanks to an effort in which he allowed four runs on nine hits. Evans punched out four Knights, while Strickland struck out one as he entered for the final out of the contest. Strickland garnered his first save with the K.
Montreat's 1-2-3 hitters in the opener, Bryant, Austin and Morelos, each picked up a knock while driving in two.
Hunter Furches batted 2-for-4 as the only Cav with multiple hits, and Austin scored twice.
Like the first matchup, KCU seized the lead before the hosts came to the plate. This time, the Knights scored just once, and the advantage was short-lived. A four-run first put Montreat in front, 4-1. Morelos notched an RBI single to tie the game, while a two-run double and an RBI single from
Jason Brulport and Furches, respectively, flipped the contest in the Cavaliers' favor.
Ashe Ammerlaan held the visitors at bay for much of the afternoon, striking out nine batters while allowing just two runs on four hits. The Bryant & Stratton College transfer hurled five frames before ceding way to
Trevor Laughlin.
After Kentucky Christian pulled itself within 4-2 in the top of the fifth, Cummings restored the three-run edge on a wild pitch during the ensuing half inning. Laughlin gave up one unearned run in his two frames of work, and he closed out Ammerlaan's third win and his initial save en route to the 5-3 triumph.
Morelos went 2-for-2 with a run, an RBI and a walk in game two. Overall, the Cavs batted 5-for-18 in the latter matchup.
"Today wasn't pretty, but we achieved our goal of winning the series as we did a good job on the mound and out of the pen. We are battling some injuries, but some guys really stepped up today. Now we need to finish business tomorrow to get us back in the right direction."
Montreat and KCU wrap up their three-game set tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Newell Field in Montreat, N.C.
