BELMONT, N.C. – Belmont Abbey (5-1) swept Shepherd University (0-2) in baseball doubleheader action at Belmont Abbey on Friday. The Rams dropped a 20-2 decision in game one and came up short on a 12-0 decision in the nightcap.
The Crusaders plated seven runs in the first inning to take a 7-0 lead en route to the game one win. Caleb Burr's two-run double keyed the rally.
Shepherd got on the board in the second when redshirt-senior infielder
Wyatt Miles (Waterford, Va./Woodgrove/Frederick CC) walked and moved to second when redshirt-senior outfielder
Trey Sine (Martinsburg, W.Va./Martinsburg) was hit-by-pitch. Miles scored on a single off the bat of redshirt catcher/first baseman
Wyatt Lamb (Asbury, W.Va./Mt. Calvary Christian School (Pa.)).
Belmont Abbey added single runs in the second and third and then added four in the fourth and three in the fifth to take a 16-1 advantage.
The Rams added a run in the sixth as redshirt sophomore outfielder
Ethan Jones (Oakton, Va./Oakton) walked and moved to second on an error. He scored on a double by junior shortstop
Ethan Burgreen (Winchester, Va./Millbrook).
The Crusaders completed the scoring with four runs in the eighth.
Russell Golembe went 3-for-4 to lead a 17-hit attack for Belmont Abbey.
Miles, Lamb, and Burgreen each got a hit for the Rams.
Drew Stegura (5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 9 K, 5 BB) (2-0) gained the win. Redshirt senior pitcher
Trevor Sharp (Bunker Hill, W.Va./Musselman) (0.1 IP, 3 H, 7 ER, 1 K, 2 BB) (0-1) took the loss.
The Crusaders took advantage of 10 hits and five Shepherd errors in the 12-0 win in the nightcap.
Burr went 3-for-3 and drove in five runs to pace Belmont Abbey in the nightcap.
Junior catcher
Austin Sofran (Swedesboro, N.J./St. Augustine Prep), junior outfielder
Nik Rubendall (East Norriton, Pa./Pope John Paul II), Miles, Lamb, Jones, and Sine all had hits for the Rams. Rubendall and Sofran each doubled.
Spencer Cipro (5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 8 K, 2 BB) (1-1) gained the win for Belmont Abbey. Redshirt sophomore pitcher
Daniel Quintana (Haymarket, Va./Paul VI/James Madison) (3.1 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 2 K, 2 BB) (0-1) took the loss.
The two teams return to action on Saturday for a noon contest to complete a three-game set.
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