March 30, 2008

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BELMONT, N.C.—Sophomore Vince Giunta (Sewell, N.J.) was a perfect 4-for-4 with four runs batted in to lead the St. Andrews baseball team to a 7-4 upset victory over host Belmont Abbey College on Sunday afternoon at Abbey Yard. The Crusaders (26-14 Overall; 13-5 Conf.), who are ranked tied for sixth in the current NCBWA South Atlantic Regional Poll, swept Saturday’s doubleheader over the Knights (13-26; 6-15) by scores of 4-3 and 5-1.

Senior starter Travis Lee (Frederick, Md.) tossed a complete-game as the Knights won their sixth Conference Carolinas contest on Sunday.

St. Andrews visits local non-conference rival UNC Pembroke on Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday’s home game against Catawba College has been moved to Monday, April 14.

SATURDAY: Game 1 – Belmont Abbey 4, St. Andrews 3

The Abbey scored three runs in the first two innings and held on for a slim 4-3 victory.

Sophomore Charles Weber (Concord, N.C.) cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fourth inning with a two-run single in the right-center gap that plated senior Michael Eastwood (Grantsboro, N.C.) and junior Kyle Norris (Laurel Hill, N.C.), who both reached base with singles.

The Crusaders added a much needed insurance run in the eighth as St. Andrews made another patented ninth-inning rally. The Knights loaded the bases on a Weber hit-by-a-pitch; a single by senior B.J. Horne (Hamlet, N.C.), and a walk by senior Eric Stone (Laurinburg, N.C.). Freshman pitch hitter R.J. Blasi (Hubert, N.C.) then plated Weber on a fielder’s choice groundout. However, the rally was ended one run short as the next batter grounded out to end the game.

Eastwood, Norris, and Horne all had two hits in the first game.

Senior T.J. Chrusch (Fleetwood, Pa.) was tagged for his first loss in his last five starts even though he tossed another respectable game. Chrusch allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits while striking out a game-high eight batters. Chrusch’s 122-pitch performance was his fifth complete game in nine starts.

SATURDAY: Game 2 – Belmont Abbey 5, St. Andrews 1

Belmont Abbey used a three-run fourth inning to complete the sweep of Saturday’s twin bill with a 5-1 victory.

The Crusaders loaded up the bases in the first inning but were only able to score one run as Knights’ starter B.J. Horne struck out the final two batters to escape the jam.

Stone drove in St. Andrews only run of the middle game of the three-game series with a single in the fourth inning that scored Weber. Stone and Weber had the Knights only two hits of the game.

Horne went the distance for St. Andrews throwing 109-pitches over 6.0 innings while allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits while striking out four.

SUNDAY: St. Andrews 7, Belmont Abbey 4

St. Andrews ripped 13 hits in the series finale en route to a 7-4 victory on Sunday.

Belmont Abbey once again scored in the first inning to take an early one-run lead but the Knights quickly tied the game up in the top of the second.

SAPC took its first lead of the afternoon on a two-run single down the left field line by Giunta. Senior Sam Williams (Rockingham, N.C.) and Weber, who led off the inning with back-to-back singles, scored on Giunta’s hit.

The Abbey posted a three spot in the bottom of the fifth to regain a slim 4-3 advantage but the Knights would not be out done. St. Andrews surged ahead with four runs in the top of the sixth. Giunta put the Knights on top for good with another two-run single up the middle. Sophomore Jeremy Fisher (Catonsville, Md.) also had a run-producing double during the outburst.

Giunta was 4-for-4 while fisher, Williams, and Stone each provided two hits apiece.

Lee earned his second win of the season with a gutsy 144-pitch, complete game. Lee allowed four runs on eight hits and five walks but was strong in pressure situations forcing the Crusaders into leaving 11 runners on base.