Belmont Abbey, Francis Marion Advance in Baseball Championship Bracket
Bracket | Tournament Homepage | Live Video | Live Stats
GASTONIA, N.C. – The play-in round of the 2023 Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship got underway on Wednesday and Belmont Abbey and Francis Marion each advanced to the double-elimination portion of the tournament with wins at CaroMont Health Park in Gastonia, North Carolina.
In the first game, fifth-seeded Belmont Abbey defeated No. 8 seed Emmanuel, 10-2. The Crusaders scored first on a fielder’s choice before the Lions plated a pair of runs to take the lead in the top of the second. It was short-lived though as Belmont Abbey posted four runs in the bottom half for a 5-2 lead. The score held firm until the sixth when Thomas Collins belted the first home run of the tournament to right field to cut the lead to three. The Abbey once again answered back with a sacrifice fly and a Ben Ferguson two-run home run to right field to push the lead to five, 8-3. The Crusaders added two more in the seventh for the final margin.
The top three in the Crusaders’ order paced the offense as each had two runs and drove in two. Left fielder Connor Powell led off and went 3-for-3 while second baseman Patrick Taylor tallied two hits and Ferguson, playing first base, had two hits. The Crusaders tallied 12 hits to three for the Lions. Alex Sniffen (5-3) got the win as he allowed three runs on three hits with eight strikeouts and three walks over 7.2 innings. Emmanuel used seven pitchers in the loss.
In the second game of the night, the fifth-seeded Patriots of Francis Marion struck early and got a masterful pitching performance from Robbie Jordan to defeat sixth-seeded Erskine, 3-1. FMU struck first in the second with a pair of runs and added insurance in the third. However, Jordan didn’t need it as he allowed one run on six hits over eight innings with four strikeouts and a pair of walks to improve to 5-3 on the year. Right-hander Josh Adams earned his fifth save of the season with a perfect ninth. Joe Alegre (9-3) took the hard-luck loss as he allowed three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts over four innings.
Francis Marion narrowly outhit the Flying Fleet, 7-6, led by a two hit day by Zack Summerville who also drove in a run. Dalton Boyd paced the Erskine offense with two hits and a walk in three at-bats with one run scored.
Belmont Abbey advances to face No. 2 Barton in the second game of day two on Thursday, May 4 at 3 p.m. Francis Marion will wrap-up play on Thursday against top-seeded North Greenville at 7 p.m. The day begins with No. 3 UNC Pembroke facing No. 4 Mount Olive at 11 a.m. inside CaroMont Health Park.
Fans can watch every game of the tournament live via the Conference Carolinas Digital Network and BlueFrame at conferencecarolinasdn.com. Information regarding the championship schedule, bracket and CaroMont Health Park, home of the tournament host Gastonia Honey Hunters, are available
here.
2023 Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship
CaroMont Health Park | Gastonia, N.C.
Play-in Round – Wednesday, May 3
Game 1: #5 Belmont Abbey def. #8 Emmanuel, 10-3 (Box Score)
Game 2: #6 Francis Marion vs. #7 Erskine, 3-1 (Box Score)
First Round - Thursday, May 4
Game 3: #3 UNC Pembroke vs. #4 Mount Olive, 11 a.m.
Game 4: #2 Barton vs. #5 Belmont Abbey, 3 p.m.
Game 5: #1 North Greenville vs. #6 Francis Marion, 7 p.m.
Second Round - Friday, May 5
Game 6: Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 4, 11 a.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 3, 3 p.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 7 p.m.
If four teams remain after Game 8
Semifinal Round - Saturday, May 6
Game 9: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 8, 11 a.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 3 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 9 vs. Loser Game 10, 7 p.m.
Championship - Sunday, May 7
Game 12: Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11, 1 p.m.
Game 13: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12, 4 p.m. (If Necessary)
If five teams remain after Game 8 and two after Game 11
Semifinal Round - Saturday, May 6
Game 9: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 7, 11 a.m.
Game 10: Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 3 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 8, 7 p.m.
Championship - Sunday, May 7
Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 11, 1 p.m.
Game 13: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12, 4 p.m. (If Necessary)
If five teams remain after Game 8 and three after Game 11
Championship - Sunday, May 7
Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Loser Game 11, 1 p.m.
Game 13: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12, 4 p.m.