BARBOURVILLE, Ky.— Montreat's baseball team visited the Union Commonwealth University Bulldogs for an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) series. On Saturday, the two conference foes played a doubleheader. The Cavaliers were shut out in both contests as they lost 1-0 in the nine-inning first game. They lost the second game of seven innings, 2-0.
The Bulldogs (16-24, 8-14 AAC) walked off the first game in the ninth with a single to deep left center. In game two, Union scored two runs from a single to right in the sixth frame. The Cavs (16-26, 8-15 AAC) could not get anything back in the top of the seventh to stay alive.
Merritt Evans started the first game on the bump for the Cavaliers and dazzled. Through his seven innings of work, he allowed just two hits and no runs. Evans walked three batters and struck out three as well. He plunked two batters in his shift.
Trevor Laughlin replaced Evans in the eighth inning. Laughlin pitched for 1 1/3 frames. In his performance, he allowed two hits and the lone run. He walked and struck out one batter.
In game two,
Ryan Henrickson threw five frames in his start. He allowed just two hits and struck out three Bulldogs. Henrickson walked two batters.
Nick Kantzavelos pitched the final inning and gave up two hits and the only two runs scored in the final game. He also walked two Union players.
Individually, five different Cavaliers registered a hit in the twin bill.
Zeb Marquis and
Jaider Morelos each had two knocks.
Devon Smith,
Manny Moore and
Jason Brulport also recorded singles. Marquis' double in game one was the lone hit for extra bases all day for Montreat.
The Cavs totaled seven hits on the day. In the doubleheader, Montreat went 7-for-51. The Cavs stole two bases and were caught stealing once. The Cavaliers struck out 14 times and walked seven times today. Montreat left a total of 15 runners on base.
"Our Saturday woes continue as we cannot put together a complete weekend," said head coach
Jason Beck. "The starting pitching was phenomenal today, but the bats could not execute in big spots and their team did. That was the difference today."
The series continues on Sunday with a single nine-inning contest scheduled for noon.
