BLUEFIELD, Va.— After taking the opener on Friday and a weather postponement on Saturday, the Montreat baseball team went for the series win against the Bluefield University Rams Sunday afternoon in Bluefield, Va. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, they came up short in both contests, losing 6-3 and 3-2. With the defeats, Montreat fell to 11-13 (6-6 AAC) on the year.
Things started off well for the visitors in game one as they scored a run in each of the initial three frames.
Manny Moore notched an RBI in the top of the first, while
Dawson Bryant did the same during the ensuing half inning. Moore later scored on a double steal attempt in the top of the third, pushing the Cavs' advantage up to 3-0.
Logan Strickland was perfect early on, carving up the Bluefield (8-9, 4-5 AAC) lineup. The Good Hope, Ga. native struck out three batters through three flawless frames; however, the Rams started to get the bats going during their second time through the order.
Four hits and a bases-loaded walk plated a pair for the home side in the bottom of the fourth. BU registered four more hits in the fifth, and a couple of errors aided the Rams in vaulting themselves out to a 6-3 lead through five.
That ultimately proved to be all the offense either squad could muster in the opening half of Sunday's twin bill. Montreat tallied just two hits and a walk against Bluefield's bullpen. Meanwhile,
Nick Kantzavelos was stellar in his relief work. The Bartlett, Ill. native surrendered just one knock while striking out three across 3 2/3 shutout innings.
Kaden Ethier led the way with a pair of hits during the Cavaliers' 6-3 defeat. Seven Montreat batters combined for eight base knocks during game one, while three different Cavs came around to score.
Jason Brulport drew two walks in the nine-inning affair.
The visitors started game two with a lead as well, plating a single run in the first and third frames.
Justin Austin bagged a one-out double before coming around to score on a Brulport single in the first. A two-out error added to the Montreat lead, putting the Cavaliers on top through three, 2-0.
Ashe Ammerlaan retired eight consecutive batters between the first and fourth innings. The lefty starter punched out five hitters through his initial four frames; however, that changed in the bottom of the fifth. Eleven straight balls eventually led to two walks and two hit batters to kick off the inning. Bluefield later tied the score at 2-2 thanks to a sacrifice fly.
A sac fly handed the hosts a 3-2 edge in the bottom of the sixth. On the flip side, the Cavs left the bases loaded in both the sixth and seventh innings. As a result, the Rams secured the doubleheader sweep and the series win with a 3-2 triumph.
The Cavaliers outhit Bluefield in the latter matchup, 8-3. Brulport recorded two hits and a walk, while
Dean Davis earned a free pass in all three of his plate appearances. Ammerlaan and
Trevor Laughlin combined to throw six innings on the mound for the visitors.
"We were atrocious yesterday," said head coach
Jason Beck. "Guys did not show up with any fire as we struck out looking seven times in game two. We didn't execute in any phase of the game, and it hurt. We have to do better to compete and not just go through the motions. We are a better team than that, I think, but if we don't do it, maybe we are not right now."
Montreat heads to Mocksville, N.C. later today for a neutral-site contest versus the Penn State Scranton Nittany Lions. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
