GASTONIA, N.C. – The 2025 Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship produced four more tight contests on Friday with Emmanuel University and Young Harris College advancing to Saturday’s semifinals. Barton College and Francis Marion University both won elimination games to move to Saturday.

No. 1 Francis Marion defeats No. 5 UNC Pembroke 16-12
The opening contest was a slugfest as Francis Marion jumped ahead with three runs, two on a Rayth Peterson single in the first. UNC Pembroke came back with a pair of runs on a Luis Ramirez home run in the bottom of the first inning. The Patriots extended their lead to 11-2 with two runs in the second and six in the third inning. Charlie Bussey III highlighted the third inning with a grand slam.

The Braves chipped away with two runs on a Jake Bradley home run in the bottom of the inning. UNC Pembroke added two more in the fourth before scoring four in the seventh inning. That frame was highlighted by a Morgan Padgett two-run single, pulling the Braves within 12-10 after seven. Bussey hit another home run in the eighth as the Patriots added two runs to their lead. The Braves matched those runs in the bottom of the inning before Francis Marion capped the 16-12 win with two runs in the ninth.

No. 6 Barton defeats No. No. 7 Mount Olive 7-5
Barton grabbed the lead on a Yariel Diaz run-scoring single in the first inning. The Bulldogs extended their lead to 4-0 with two runs in the bottom of the second and another in the third on a Chase Waddell single.

Mount Olive responded with three runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by an Anthony Mitta two-run double. Barton put the contest out of reach in the seventh inning on a two-run single from Caleb Holland. Joe Rauscher finished the game on the mound, giving Barton the 7-3 victory.

No. 8 Emmanuel defeats No. 4 North Greenville 8-5
Emmanuel jumped ahead with an unearned run in the first inning, but North Greenville responded with a Gideon Antle home run in the second inning before a Tristan Salinas run-scoring single gave the Trailblazers a 2-1 lead after three innings. North Greenville extended their lead to 4-1 with back-to-back run-scoring hits from Bryce Roddey and Brett Blomquist in the fifth.

The Lions came roaring back in the sixth on a Hayden Beall two-run home run before a Dee Oliver sacrifice fly evened the score at 4-4. Brock Wollin gave Emmanuel a 5-4 lead with a leadoff home run in the seventh inning. However, North Greenville responded with an unearned run in the eight, evening the score at 5-5.  Nevertheless, Emmanuel plated manufactured three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take an 8-5 lead. Zach Evans made that standup to give the Lions the 8-5 win.

No. 2 Young Harris defeats No. 3 Belmont Abbey 6-5
In the nightcap, Young Harris took a lead in the third on a Kade Smallwood sacrifice fly, and the Mountain Lions extended the lead to 3-0 on a Luke Hatcher two-run home run in the fifth. The Belmont Abbey offense came alive in the sixth inning as Joe Whitaker laced a two-run home run before a Jack Boyles run-scoring single. Justin Herrera then drove in two more with at triple, giving the Crusaders a 5-3 lead.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Young Harris responded with three runs, two unearned in the bottom of the sixth inning to regain a 6-5 lead. That was enough for Brady Caloway who only allowed three hits over the final three and two-thirds innings to give Young Harris the 6-5 win.

Saturday starts with a pair of elimination games as Belmont Abbey takes on Francis Marion at 11:00 a.m. at Sims Legion Park and Barton takes on North Greenville at 11:00 a.m. at CaroMont Health Park. Emmanuel and Young Harris meet at 3:00 p.m. before the winners of the 11:00 a.m. games square off at 7:00 p.m.
 

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2025 Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship
CaroMont Health Park | Gastonia, N.C.
 
Play-in Round – Wednesday, April 30
Game 1: No. 8 Emmanuel defeats No. 9 Shorter, 9-6 BOX SCORE
Game 2: No. 7 Mount Olive defeats No. 10 King, 9-6 BOX SCORE
 
First Round - Thursday, May 1
Game 3: No. 8 Emmanuel defeats No. 1 Francis Marion, 15-8 BOX SCORE
Game 4: No. 4 North Greenville defeats No. 5 UNC Pembroke, 3-2 (at Sims Legion Park) BOX SCORE
Game 5: No. 2 Young Harris defeats  No. 7 Mount Olive, 11-10 (F/10) BOX SCORE
Game 6: No. 3 Belmont Abbey defeats No. 6 Barton, 8-5 BOX SCORE
 
Second Round - Friday, May 2
Game 7: No. 1 Francis Marion defeats No. 5 UNC Pembroke, 16-12 BOX SCORE
Game 8: No. 6 Barton defeats No. 7 Mount Olive, 7-3 (at Sims Legion Park) BOX SCORE
Game 9: No. 8 Emmanuel defeats No. 4 North Greenville, 8-5 BOX SCORE
Game 10: No. 2 Young Harris defeats No. 3 Belmont Abbey, 6-5 BOX SCORE
 
Semifinal Round - Saturday, May 3
Game 11: No. 4 North Greenville vs. No. 6 Barton, 11:00 a.m.
Game 12: No. 1 Francis Marion vs. No. 3 Belmont Abbey, 11:00 a.m. (at Sims Legion Park)
Game 13: No. 2 Young Harris vs. No. 8 Emmanuel, 3:00 p.m.
Game 14: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12, 7:00 p.m.
 
Championship - Sunday, May 4
Game 15: Winner Game 14 vs. Loser Game 13, 1:00 p.m.
Game 16: Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 15, 4:00 p.m.
 
Championship – Monday, May 5 (If Necessary)
Game 17 – Loser Game 16 vs. Winner Game 15, 1:00 p.m.