April 7, 2008
Contact: Leah Melichar
Limestone College Sports Information
Phone: 864-488-8219
lmelichar@limestone.edu

BELMONT ABBEY EDGES LIMESTONE 6-5

GAFFNEY, S.C.—The Belmont Abbey baseball team edged Limestone 6-5 on Monday afternoon at Bob Prevatte Field. The Crusaders improve to 30-14 (16-5 league) after today’s Conference Carolinas result. The Saints fall to 20-26 (9-12 conference).

Alex Castellanos (Miami, Fla.) hit a two-out two-run homer in the first for the Crusaders. Zach Watkins (Albany, Ga.) put the Saints within one with a lead-off homer in the bottom of the inning.

Belmont Abbey added two more runs in the third. Limestone’s Adam McSwain (Fallston, N.C.) hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second to score Josh Izokovic (Shelby, N.C.). Drew Lydon (White Plains, Md.) followed up with a triple as Phillip Soden (Inman, S.C.) came home.

Limestone took the lead in the sixth with a base hit by Watkins that scored Kyle Brewer (Gruetli-Laager, Tenn.) and Matt Still (Moncks Corner, S.C.).

The Crusaders tied the game in the seventh on a Limestone error, and went on to score again in the ninth when Elio Rey (Miami, Fla.) was walked with the bases loaded for the 6-5 victory.

Marques Kyles (Spartanburg, S.C.) was credited with the loss after he relieved starter Chris Zimmerman (Hendersonville, N.C.) in the seventh. He played 1 2/3 innings and allowed three hits and one earned run. Kyles also posted three strikeouts. Michael McAbee (Boiling Springs, S.C.) pitched the final inning, allowed no hits, and struck out one batter. Zimmerman gave up 12 hits and two earned runs and recorded two strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings of work.

Trey Summerlin (Stanley, N.C.) got the win for the Abbey after he pitched 2 2/3 innings as he gave up one hit, one walk, and had two strikeouts. John Merritt (Yadkinville, N.C.) picked up the save after relieving Summerlin and recorded a strikeout for the final out in the ninth. Tyler Powell (Port Orange, Fla.) played the first six innings and recorded three strikeouts. He allowed nine hits and five earned runs.

Watkins was 2-4 for the Saints with 3 RBIs and a run scored. Castellanos batted 3-4 with 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored for Belmont Abbey.

The Saints host Lenoir-Rhyne on April 9 at 3 p.m. at Bob Prevatte Field. The Crusaders host Carson-Newman on April 9 in Belmont, N.C. The doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m.

-LIMESTONE-