MONTREAT, N.C. — The Montreat College baseball team claimed the first two matchups of a three-game series against Penn State Scranton on Tuesday afternoon at Newell Field. The Cavaliers edged out a 1-0 victory in game one before securing a 9-2 triumph in the second contest. With the doubleheader sweep, Montreat improved to 19-6 on the season, while the Nittany Lions fell to 0-8 overall.
The game remained scoreless through the first four innings as both teams struggled to generate offense. Montreat finally broke through during the bottom of the fifth inning. Zachary Long delivered the Cavaliers' first, and ultimately only, hit of the contest with a single to right field. He was then replaced by pinch runner Wilmer Bolivar. Bolivar quickly moved into scoring position with a stolen base, advanced to third on a wild pitch and crossed the plate moments later on a throwing error by the catcher, accounting for the game's lone run.
Montreat's pitching staff held firm the rest of the way to preserve the narrow lead. Hayden Brooks tossed six shutout innings, allowing five hits and striking out five batters to capture his second win of the campaign. Hunter Rast closed out the contest in the seventh, striking out one to secure his seventh save of the season and the 1-0 victory.
Long recorded the Cavs' lone hit, finishing 1-for-2 at the plate. Bolivar contributed by scoring the game's only run and swiping a stolen base as a pinch runner.
In game two, Montreat's offense came alive early, erupting in the second inning to build a commanding lead. Daniel Restrepo sparked the rally with a double to left center, and Matthew Brunner followed with a bunt single to move Restrepo to third. Gabriel Ferrell then smacked a single down the left-field line to bring home the first run of the frame. Hunter Furches extended the lead with a two-RBI single to left, and Dawson Bryant capped the scoring surge with a single through the left side that plated two more runs, giving the Cavaliers a 5-0 advantage after two innings.
Montreat added to its lead in the third frame when Restrepo launched a two-run homer to center field, his 10th of the season. The blast scored Tommy Ramos, who had reached on a single, extending the Cavs' lead to 7-0 through three.
The hosts continued to build their advantage in the fourth inning, adding two more runs. Kaden Ethier, running for Bryant, came around to score on a double by Gustavo Gonzalez. Adrian Vivo then entered as a pinch runner and later crossed the plate on a single to left field by Ramos, pushing the Cavaliers' edge to 9-0 after four frames.
Penn State Scranton responded in the fifth inning, plating two runs on a single that cut the deficit to 9-2. However, Montreat's defense prevented any further damage, and the score held for the remainder of the contest.
Dawson Yokley got the start in game two, tossing three scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out four. Ethan Caldwell followed with a flawless inning of relief, retiring all three batters he faced to earn his third win of the season. John Lowe worked the next frame, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks. Julian Tellez delivered a scoreless inning with two strikeouts, and Tyson Clingan closed out the game with a perfect seventh inning, inducing two groundouts to seal the victory.
Restrepo led the offensive effort with two hits, including a home run, while driving in two runs and scoring twice. Bryant added two hits and two RBIs, and Gonzalez contributed a double that drove in a run.
The Cavs will look to complete the series sweep tomorrow at Newell Field in Montreat, N.C., with the first pitch scheduled for noon.
