GASTONIA, N.C. – Belmont Abbey College won two more elimination games on Sunday to advance to the 2025 Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship title game on Sunday. The Crusaders topped Barton College and then defeated Emmanuel University.

No. 3 Belmont Abbey defeated No. 6 Barton 15-4
The first three innings of the contest was a pitcher’s duel as there was only one combined hit. Belmont Abbey then erupted in the fifth with five runs, highlighted by home runs from Todd Velotta and a three-run bomb from Jake Bidoglio. The Crusaders added three runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings, highlighted by another Velotta home run.

Barton scored two runs in the fifth and another in the six, cutting the Crusader lead to 11-3. Jackson Risk, Caleb Burr, Cater DuHaime and Joe Whitaker hit four straight home runs, the final three on three straight pitches to give Belmont Abbey a 15-3 lead in the eighth. Chase Waddell hit a home run for Barton in the bottom of the inning, but Belmont Abbey took the contest 15-4.

No. 3 Belmont Abbey defeated No. 8 Emmanuel 3-1
Belmont Abbey grabbed the lead with a two-run home run from Bidoglio in the second inning following a leadoff single from Jack Boyles. Emmanuel cut their deficit in half in the sixth on a Landon Mokris sacrifice fly that scored Jesus Cruz. However, the Crusaders responded with a run on a DuHaime single in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-1 lead.

That was all Belmont Abbey starting pitcher Ryan Weller needed as he tossed a complete game, allowing just the one run on four hits. He struck out seven against just two walk, giving the Crusaders the 3-1 win and berth in Monday’s championship game.

Belmont Abbey will now face second seed Young Harris College at 11:00 a.m. in the championship game. The Crusaders will need two wins to take the crown while Young Harris just needs one win.
 

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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. 6 Barton defeats No. 4 North Greenville, 5-4 BOX SCORE
Game 12: No. 3 Belmont Abbey defeats No. 1 Francis Marion, 15-4 (at Sims Legion Park) BOX SCORE
Game 13: No. 2 Young Harris defeats No. 8 Emmanuel, 25-1 BOX SCORE
 
Championship - Sunday, May 4
Game 14: No. 3 Belmont Abbey defeats No. 6 Barton, 15-4 BOX SCORE
Game 15: No. 3 Belmont Abbey defeats No. 8 Emmanuel, 3-1 BOX SCORE

Championship – Monday, May 5 (If Necessary)
Game 16: No. 2 Young Harris vs. No. 3 Belmont Abbey, 11:00 a.m.
Game 17 – Loser Game 16 vs. Winner Game 15, 45 minutes after game 16