BARBOURVILLE, Ky.— The Montreat baseball team finished its three-game Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) road series versus the Union Commonwealth University Bulldogs Sunday afternoon. Behind a five-homer effort, the Cavaliers rolled to a 16-8 victory, taking the series finale and improving to 17-26 (9-15 AAC) on the year.
Playing essentially a must-win game, Montreat got off to a fantastic start. Four runs in the top of the first put the visitors in the driver's seat early.
Daniel Wagner scored on a fielding error, while
Blake Watts notched an RBI double and
Jason Brulport registered an RBI groundout. A double steal attempt plated Watts later in the frame.
Union Commonwealth (16-25, 8-15 AAC) mustered a response during the ensuing half inning. A trio of RBI singles trimmed the gap to just one run, but the hosts were never able to eliminate their deficit.
Justin Austin gave the Cavs some breathing room with his three-run blast in the top of the third. The Bulldogs pulled one of those runs back during the bottom half of the frame, but
Zeb Marquis ended the inning by throwing a runner out at the dish.
Richard Matos Delacruz and Watts went back-to-back in the fourth. Matos Delacruz clobbered a two-run bomb, while Watts' solo jack expanded Montreat's lead to 10-4 through four.
UCU halved its deficit during the fifth, but the Cavaliers landed the knockout blow moments later. Watts recorded an RBI single in the sixth, pushing the lead back out to four. Meanwhile, in the seventh, Marquis smoked a three-run missile before
Devon Smith crushed a pinch-hit, two-run homer. Montreat's fourth and fifth home runs allowed the visitors to seize control with a 16-7 lead through seven.
The Cavs' pitching staff settled down over the final four frames, holding the Bulldogs to just one run across that stretch. Union Commonwealth plated one baserunner in the ninth, but the damage was done. With the last out, Montreat concluded the series with a 16-8 triumph.
"Sunday was a must-win, and the guys responded," said head coach
Jason Beck. "We are still trying to get all aspects of the game together at once, though. Overall, the guys answered, and we must be happy for that. Up next is a tough weekend against Milligan. We need to continue to get better and get hot at the right time."
Five different Cavaliers notched multiple RBIs in the victory. Watts, Marquis and Austin each tallied multiple hits, with Watts' four knocks leading the way. Six different Cavs scored at least two runs, and both Austin and
Dawson Bryant drew two walks.
Matt Campos threw three innings during his start on the mound.
Dawson Yokley, Logan Stickland and
Hunter Rast each tossed two frames. Strickland didn't allow a run in his relief effort, while Campos, Yokley and Strickland each punched out three Bulldogs.
Montreat returns to Newell Field on Tuesday for an out-of-conference matchup against Bob Jones University. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. in Montreat, N.C.
