Mars Hill upsets No. 15 Belmont Abbey in extras
Lions secure winning season with 25th win of year.
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill baseball team (25-21-1) upset No. 15 Belmont Abbey (33-12) by a score of 7-6 in 12 innings Tuesday afternoon inside Henderson Field.
The Lions, trailing 5-4, clawed back into the game in the bottom of the eighth. With Terick Bumgarner on second, Carter Potts' single to right plated the tying run.
In extras, the Crusaders retook the lead. In the top of the 10th, Caleb Burr hit a solo home run to center, the Crusaders' fourth home run of the day and Burr's second of the game.
In the bottom of the frame, Alejandro Aguilar was hit by a pitch to get on base. Three Belmont Abbey wild pitches throughout the inning allowed him to score the tying run.
After a scoreless 11th frame, the Lions, in the bottom of the 12th earned their fourth straight win as Bumgarner doubled to right center, plating Yeriel Pastrana for the game-winning run.
The Crusaders opened the scoring in the top of the first as Joe Whitaker launched a solo home run to left center.
Mars Hill, in the bottom of the fifth, plated three runs as Pastrana, Mel Rubiera, and Evan Ashe each recorded RBI singles. Potts, in the bottom of the sixth, extended the Lions' lead to three with a RBI single that plated Julian Lewis.
Belmont Abbey, in both the seventh and eighth innings, launched two-run home runs off the bats of Jake Bidoglio and Burr, respectively.
Burr, Whitaker, and Jack Boyles led the Crusaders with three hits apiece while Burr led the team with three RBI. Rubiera, Pastrana, and Bumgarner posted three hits apiece for the Lions while Potts led the team with two RBI.
Cameron Brown threw a strong 7.0 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. Matt Pacheco was credited with the win, throwing 2.0 scoreless innings.
The Lions wrap up their regular season this weekend, opening their series with Newberry on Friday, April 24. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
