HUNTSVILLE, Ala.— The Montreat College baseball team closed out its four-game series at Oakwood University on Sunday with another doubleheader sweep of the Ambassadors. After comfortably taking the opener, 9-3, the Cavaliers came right back with a 4-1 triumph. Following the victories, the Cavs' record improved to 5-3 overall, while OU's dropped to 0-4.
After a 1-2-3 inning to start game one, Montreat capitalized on a pair of miscues in the second frame. Two errors coupled with an RBI double from
Gustavo Gonzalez aided the visitors in seizing a 3-0 edge. Another three-spot, this time in the third inning, allowed the Cavaliers to double their lead.
Daniel Restrepo blasted a solo shot, while
Justin Austin and Gonzalez scored on
Dawson Bryant's two-run single.
In the fifth frame, the Cavs added a seventh run to their tally. Restrepo crushed his second solo shot of the ballgame, counteracting Oakwood's initial run of the matchup during the bottom half of the inning.
Montreat created additional insurance with a single run in both the sixth and seventh frames.
Jack Weisman expanded the advantage to 8-1 via an RBI groundout, while Bryant registered his third RBI of the day on a sacrifice fly to right field. The Ambassadors scored twice in the bottom of the seventh, but the damage was done as the Cavaliers closed out a 9-3 victory.
Ryan Henrickson tossed four lights-out innings as the starter, allowing just one hit while striking out six batters for his first win of the campaign.
Julian Tellez surrendered an unearned run in the fifth for his lone inning of relief.
Nick Pope punched out a pair and faced the minimum during the sixth frame, while
Christopher Suarez gave up two runs on two hits to close out the contest.
Restrepo knocked two home runs and added two RBIs, contributing significant pop to the offense. Gonzalez scored three runs and collected a double, enhancing the squad's output. Bryant paced all players by driving home three teammates.
Wilmer Bolivar excelled in stealing bases as a courtesy runner, successfully swiping three bags to keep pressure on the defense.
Game two saw the Cavs seize a swift 1-0 edge just two batters into the matchup.
Cameron Nagel reached on an error before promptly stealing second and third. Austin then lofted a ball into centerfield for the sac fly, putting the visitors in front.
The Ambassadors managed to level the score in the bottom of the third, cashing in on their only two hits of the ballgame, both of which were singles. From there, the pitching staffs kept the offenses at bay through the fifth frame.
Montreat put the game away in the top of the sixth, plating a trio of runs to close out the scoring account. Nagel walked to begin the inning before wreaking havoc on the basepaths. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley transfer stole second and third again, and his speed rattled Oakwood's pitcher to the point where Nagel was granted home plate via a balk. Austin reached on an error in the frame, and Restrepo sent him home moments later with moonshot No. 3 of the afternoon. From there, the Cavaliers threw up a few zeroes and left Alabama with a 4-1 win.
Ashe Ammerlaan gave up one run on two hits during his four innings of work. The lefty starter walked just one and struck out seven Ambassadors on Sunday.
Jordon Hart claimed the win with two shutout frames in relief. The Oakboro, N.C. native punched out three batters and allowed just one baserunner via a walk.
Hunter Rast snagged his first save of the year, facing the minimum and striking out one in the seventh.
Nagel posted two runs and stole four bases, leading the team's aggressive base-running effort, while Restrepo added pop with a home run and two RBIs.
Devon Smith was effective on the bases as well, swiping two bags.
Zachary Long reached safely three times thanks to a double, a walk and a hit-by-pitch.
The Montreat College baseball team is slated to begin Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play on Friday, Feb. 13 with its home opener. First pitch between the Columbia International University Rams and the Cavs is currently scheduled for 2 p.m. at Newell Field in Montreat, N.C.
