Box Score
Belmont, N.C.----Belmont Abbey College redshirt senior designated hitter Matt Mazzolla (Bloomfield, N.J.) delivered his second ninth-inning RBI hit in as many days, lifting the number 21 Crusaders to a 4-3 NCAA Division II victory over number 27 Wingate University Wednesday afternoon at Abbey Yard (NCAA box score, play-by-play).
 
With the win, Belmont Abbey improves to 23-8-1 overall. Wingate is 26-14 overall. The Crusaders host Conference Carolinas foe North Greenville Friday at 3:30 p.m. The South Atlantic Conference-leading Bulldogs return home Friday to entertain Mars Hill. The first pitch at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field is slated for 6 p.m.
 
In the Abbey ninth, freshman outfielder Conor Kwalwasser (Highland Mills, N.J.) drew a walk from Wingate redshirt senior reliever Joshua Karr (Richmond, Va.) to start the inning. Kwalwasser moved to second on a groundout by redshirt freshman outfielder Anthony Dimino (Charlotte, N.C.). After junior catcher Michael Falsetti (Elmwood Park, Ill.) was hit by a pitch, Mazzolla singled through the left side to plate Kwalwasser.
 
Mazzolla was one of five Abbey players to record two hits Wednesday. Mazzolla was two-for-five with one RBI. Crusader redshirt junior second baseman Gabby Amor (Miami, Fla.) was two-for-three as Belmont Abbey posted 13 hits (all singles). Wingate freshman outfielder Bill Krebs (West Chester, Pa.) and sophomore center fielder Thomas Spitz (West Chester, Pa.) both recorded two hits in four at-bats each for the visitors.
 
Wingate took a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Krebs and Spitz started the frame with back-to-back singles. Bulldog redshirt senior second baseman Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) stroked a two-RBI double to left center to score both runners. Yeung moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored when sophomore third baseman Blake Prince (Winter Park, Fla.) hit an RBI single.
 
Belmont Abbey scored two runs with two outs in the fourth. Freshman center fielder Kennan Stanley (Jacksonville, Fla.) started the rally with a single. Freshman first baseman Weston Clarke (Gainesville, Fla.) singled and moved to third on a Wingate throwing error, allowing Stanley to score. BAC junior third baseman John Pilla (Scarsdale, N.Y.) contributed an RBI single to score Clarke.
 
The Crusaders tied the contest with a single spot in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, senior reliever Kyle Brady (Cincinnati, Ohio) replaced Bulldog junior starter Stephen Vaughan (Wilmington, N.C.) on the mound. Brady recorded another out before surrendering a single to Kwalwasser. Dimino was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Kwalwasser scored on an RBI single by Falsetti.
 
BAC junior reliever Kyle Rogers (Auburn, Wash.) pitched 5 1/3 innings of two-hit relief to earn his second victory of the season. He allowed two singles and recorded one walk and one strikeout to improve to 2-0 overall. Karr allowed one run on one hit in 1/3 of an inning. He is 3-3 overall on the season.
 
Vaughan went 6 1/3 innings, scattering nine hits and surrendering two unearned runs. He struck out three and walked one. Brady pitched 1 2/3 innings, giving up one run on three hits. He struck out one. Belmont Abbey redshirt freshman starter Matt Davenport (Charlotte, N.C.) worked 3 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits. He had one strikeout.