Belmont, N.C.----The Belmont Abbey College baseball team scored 14 runs on 20 hits as the Crusaders earned a 14-2 win over the visiting Wingate Bulldogs Tuesday afternoon at Abbey Yard. Belmont Abbey moves to 12-11, while Wingate drops to 11-9. 

The host Crusaders posted seven runs in the first and six more in the fourth. Tyler Powell (the second of five Abbey pitchers) earned the win as he allowed an unearned run on four hits in three innings. Wingate freshman Charles Wolfe (Raleigh, N.C.) took the loss after giving up seven runs (six earned) on three hits in a third of an inning. He walked four batters. 

The Bulldogs jumped ahead 1-0 in the first on an RBI double by sophomore infielder Jacob Karr (Richmond, Va.). The two-bagger scored sophomore outfielder Casey Allison (Horse Shoe, N.C.), who earlier reached on an error. The Abbey responded with seven runs in its half of the inning to take a lead it would never lose. 

Gabby Amor was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a bunt single by Josh Frazier. After a pop out, Danny Brion lifted a routine fly ball to center that was dropped, loading the bases. Tim Dye converted the opportunity with a single back through the box, scoring Amor and Frazier to put the Abbey ahead to stay 2-1. Wolfe walked four straight batters which led to three Abbey runs. Amor followed with a single to left center that plated Vinny Santoemma and Daniel Torrente. 

Wingate got one back in the top of the second as junior Tres Ramirez (Ocala, Fla.) reached on a fielding error, moved to third on a double by freshman Ethan Strickland (Dunn, N.C.) and scored on a sacrifice fly by Allison to cut the deficit to 7-2. 

In the fourth, the Abbey blew the game open with six runs. The Conference Carolinas members got two-RBI singles by Dye and Frazier, an RBI double by Chris Vazquez and an RBI single by Santoemma. The Abbey added a final run in the seventh, thanks to an RBI double by Torrente. The hit scored Vazquez, who reached with a single. 

Belmont Abbey rapped out 20 hits with Frazier, Torrente, Dye and Roberto Sanchez recording three each. Dye finished three-for-four with four RBI, while Amor, Vazquez, Torrente, Santoemma and Frazier each drove in two runs. 

Wingate sophomore infielder Chris Vazquez (Tyrone, Ga.) had two of Wingate's seven hits, the only Bulldog to record more than one. The Abbey left 12 men stranded on the base paths, while Wingate left 11 men.
The Bulldogs hit the road again Wednesday, visiting Lander University for a 7 p.m. contest. Belmont Abbey returns to league play Saturday, venturing to Barton College for a 12 noon doubleheader.

(Thanks to the Belmont Abbey College sports information department for providing this story.)