KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Montreat College baseball team split its Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader at No. 4 Johnson University on Saturday afternoon, losing the three-game series but salvaging the final contest of the set to secure its second top-five win of the campaign. Needing only eight innings, the Royals took game one in Knoxville, Tenn., 11-1, but the Cavaliers bounced back with a 6-2 triumph in game two. Following the doubleheader split, the Cavs moved to 29-17 (13-11 AAC), while JU shifted to 35-8 (19-4 AAC) on the year.
Consistent scoring throughout the matchup enabled Johnson to take the opener on Saturday. Following a scoreless initial inning, the Royals jumped out to a 2-0 edge during the bottom of the second. A single and a walk set the stage for a sacrifice fly and a two-out RBI base knock. JU then tacked on two more in the fourth via another sac fly and a run-producing single to right field. The hosts' lead grew to 5-0 in the fifth as they plated a baserunner thanks to a walk, a stolen base and an extra-base hit.
Montreat had at least one runner on base in each of the first four innings, but it wasn't until the top of the seventh when the Cavs got on the scoreboard.
Gustavo Gonzalez singled to open the frame, and
Cameron Nagel reached on a fielder's choice.
Justin Austin's base hit advanced Nagel all the way to third, allowing him to score just one batter later on
Matthew Brunner's flyout to right.
Johnson erased any doubt with back-to-back three-run innings. The visitors committed four errors across those two frames, aiding the hosts along to six runs, only two of which were earned. Consecutive singles in the bottom of the eighth expanded the scoring disparity to 11-1 and handed the Royals a 10-run triumph.
Ryan Henrickson started on the mound for Montreat, pitching five innings while allowing five runs on seven hits. He also issued four walks and struck out three batters.
Nick Kantzavelos relieved Henrickson, contributing two frames of work with one walk, two hits and two earned runs, alongside one K.
Nick Pope closed the game, pitching 2/3 of an inning. The Broadway, N.C. native walked two and surrendered two hits, but all three of his runs allowed were unearned.
Gonzalez led the offense with two hits in game one. Austin made an impact by reaching base three times, drawing two walks and adding a hit.
Zachary Long contributed with a base knock and caught a runner stealing from behind the plate. Brunner notched the squad's lone RBI.
With the series already decided in JU's favor, the Cavaliers punched back in the finale to claim a massive 6-2 victory over the fourth-ranked Royals. However, Johnson started out in front, scoring an unearned run in the bottom of the first to seize a swift 1-0 advantage.
Montreat shifted the matchup in its favor during the third inning.
Dawson Bryant walked to open the frame, and
Jack Weisman's sacrifice bunt coupled with a throwing error enabled
Wilmer Bolivar, who pinch ran for the catcher, to sprint all the way home. Brunner then gave the Cavs a 2-1 edge with his two-out single to left, plating Weisman.
Weisman provided an insurance run in the fourth with a seeing-eye single to third, driving in
Jason Brulport. Returning the favor, Brulport plated both
Kaden Ethier and Nagel on a two-out, two-run single to left in the fifth. The knock delivered some much-needed breathing room for the visitors, who suddenly led 5-1 after five innings of play.
Not going down without a fight, Johnson scratched across one run during the bottom of the sixth. The Royals couldn't pull any closer, though. Meanwhile,
Daniel Restrepo lofted a sac fly to right in the top of the seventh, restoring Montreat's four-run cushion. A quiet home-half of the seventh put the finishing touches on the Cavaliers' 6-2 win over the NAIA's fourth-ranked team.
"This was a well-needed win," said Head Coach
Jason Beck. "A lot of guys that don't normally play stepped up and did an amazing job today. Freshman
Hayden Brooks rose to the occasion and gave us the lift that we needed. I'm proud of all these guys getting the little things done, which accumulated to a win."
Brooks was brilliant on the bump, capturing his fourth win of the season. A native of Bluffton, S.C., Brooks scattered one hit and three walks across four innings of work. The newcomer gave up just one unearned run and struck out three during his outing.
Ethan Caldwell then picked up his first save to conclude the contest. He threw three innings and allowed one run on two hits and two walks, while also striking out a batter.
Nagel scored twice and added a hit to aid the offense. Brunner finished with two knocks and drove in one run. Brulport tallied a pair of hits and RBIs, while Weisman delivered one hit, one run and one RBI to round out the performance.
The Montreat College baseball team closes out its nonconference slate on Tuesday, April 21, with a midweek clash at Carolina University. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. in Mocksville, N.C.
