MONTREAT, N.C. — The Montreat College baseball team kicked off its final regular season Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) series on Friday with a doubleheader against the Spartanburg Methodist College Pioneers. The Cavaliers came up just short, dropping both games by a single run. They lost the opener to the visitors, 4-3, as well as the second matchup, 8-7. Following the matchups, the Cavs moved to 30-19 (13-13 AAC) on the year, while SMC improved to 25-21 (16-10 AAC).
Montreat kicked off the scoring in game one with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Zachary Long started the inning off with a walk, and after Jack Weisman stepped in to run for him, Daniel Restrepo blasted a ball over the fence in left center. The blast gave the Cavaliers a 2-0 lead.
The Pioneers answered right back in the ensuing frame, tying the game with a two-run shot of their own.
After a couple of quiet innings, Spartanburg Methodist pulled ahead in the sixth. The visitors broke the tie with yet another two-run homer, jumping out in front, 4-2. The Cavs were able to scratch a run across and narrow the gap to 4-3 in the bottom half of the sixth. Matthew Brunner singled, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Restrepo's groundout.
The final three innings were marked by solid pitching from both sides. Neither team allowed a run down the stretch, and the game ended with the Pioneers securing a 4-3 victory.
Hayden Brooks got the start and pitched six frames, allowing four runs on nine hits. The freshman struck out four batters and issued three walks during his 100-pitch outing. Nick Kantzavelos followed with three shutout innings of relief work, giving up just one hit.
Brunner collected three hits and scored once, demonstrating his effectiveness at the plate. Restrepo finished with three RBIs, including a home run and a double. Hunter Furches added a double to his tally, securing an extra-base hit in one of his three at-bats.
Montreat wasted no time leaping ahead of its counterpart in game two, scoring four times in the first inning. Brunner got the two-out rally started with a solo homer to center field. Tommy Ramos then kept it rolling with a base hit to right center. The Cavaliers were able to extend the inning after Restrepo reached first on an error, which set the stage for Gustavo Gonzalez's first pitch, three-run blast to left field. The Cavs ended the initial inning up 4-0.
In the third frame, the hosts expanded their lead. Brunner walked and later scored on a double steal, and Restrepo sprinted home on Gabriel Ferrell's RBI double. Furches capped off the inning with an RBI single, ballooning Montreat's lead to 7-0.
From there, Spartanburg Methodist began to close the gap. In the fifth inning, SMC pulled a run back on an extra-base hit. The visitors then threw a haymaker in the sixth frame, making their comeback with a six-run rally. A series of singles, a sacrifice fly and a two-run shot helped tie the game at 7-7.
A leadoff home run in the top of the seventh proved to be the difference maker. Montreat was unable to come up with a response in the home half of the final inning, leading to an 8-7 SMC win.
Jordon Hart started on the rubber for the Cavs, pitching five innings while allowing one run on four hits and a walk. He also punched out three batters. Trevor Laughlin was the first Cavalier to appear in relief. The Junction City, Kan. native was unable to record an out, and he was charged with four runs on three hits and one walk. Ethan Caldwell concluded the game, pitching two innings and giving up three runs on four hits and a strikeout.
Brunner showcased his power by hitting a home run, contributing two runs and one RBI. Restrepo added to the offensive effort with two runs scored and a stolen base. Gonzalez drove in three runs with a homer.
Looking ahead, Montreat will finish its AAC set and regular season schedule tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. First pitch against SMC will take place at Newell Field in Montreat, N.C.
