Eagles split at Belmont Abbey
March 17, 2009
BELMONT, N.C. - The Carson-Newman Eagles took the opener 2-0, but dropped the nightcap 4-2 to split a pair of seven-inning games with Belmont Abbey Tuesday afternoon in Belmont, N.C.
The Abbey is now 14-15, while the Eagles move to 15-11.
The opening game was a pitcher's duel as both teams combined for just eight hits, three for Carson-Newman and five for the Abbey, but the Eagles took advantage of an Abbey error to score two unearned runs in the top of the third inning.
After Mason Guymon reached on a one out fielder's choice, Evan Patterson laid down a bunt in front of the mound that was scooped up by Andrew Morton, but his throw sailed into right field, allowing Guymon to score and Patterson to reach third base. Mills Rogers followed with an infield single that scored Patterson for the second and final run.
Morton was charged with the loss after giving up two unearned runs on three hits in four innings, striking out three and walking one. The relief corps of Evan Jonas and Zach Horne combined to hold the Eagles hitless in the final three innings. Robby Thigpen earned the win after working four and one-third scoreless innings, striking out one and walking one. Corbin Ariail earned the save. He gave up just one hit over the final one and one-thirds scoreless innings, fanning three.
The nightcap was a different story, as the Abbey jumped ahead in the third by plating three. Roland Rodriguez led off the inning with a single, stole second, and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Josh Frazier. Caleb Shore followed with a lacing single to left center, bringing home Rodriguez for a 1-0 Abbey lead. Shore would later come home after he stole second and took third on an errant throw, and scored on a single to right by Daniel Kassouf. After a strikeout, Justin Vasquez plated Tyler McKenzie, who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning, with an opposite field single to left center to move the lead to 3-0.
Carson-Newman, which was held hitless for four and two-thirds innings, got a run in the fifth, but the Crusaders matched it with one of their own in the bottom of the inning, using a Vasquez single that brought home Shore. The Eagles added one in the sixth, but Jordan Cudney held Carson-Newman scoreless in the seventh to preserve the win.
Michael Maples earned the win, dominating the Eagles for four hitless innings, striking out three. Cudney earned the save, scattering one run on two hits in the final two innings. Justin Higdon was charged with the loss after giving up three runs on two hits in two and one-thirds innings, striking out three.
Carson-Newman returns to action on Thursday when it hosts Anderson at 2 p.m. at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex in Jefferson City.
