GASTONIA – Fourth-seeded UNC Pembroke jumped out to another early lead, while HL Smith and Kasen McCawley combined for a run-rule shortened shutout victory in the championship game of the Conference Carolinas Tournament at CaroMont Health Park.

Joey Rezek got the Braves going with a 2-run opposite-field blast for his 20th homer of the season on the way to Tournament MVP honors after turning in a 4-4, 5 RBI performance. Spencer Faulkner added a homer on a 3-4 line, as well.

Smith got the start and turned in 4 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits to go along with seven punchouts. McCawley went the final 2 1/3, going seven up, seven down to slam the door.

The Black & Gold brought home a conference tournament championship for the first time since winning the 2011 Peach Belt Conference tourney, receiving the league's automatic qualifier berth into the NCAA Southeast Regional in the process. The NCAA Selection Show is scheduled for Sunday, May 12 at 10 p.m. and will be streamed live on NCAA.com.

The Braves (42-12) improved to 22-19 in the all-time series with the Crusaders (27-25), and have now taken 14 of the last 16 in the series.

Chase Jernigan, Jonathon Jacobs, Kody O'Connor, and Andrew Jenner all joined Rezek on the All-Tournament Team.

The Braves will be back in action Thursday, May 16 as they begin regional tournament play. Stay tuned to uncpbraves.com for more information when it comes available.
 

GAME SUMMARY
FINAL SCORE	UNC Pembroke 10, Belmont Abbey 0
PITCHERS	WP: HL Smith (3-2)  LP: Josh Collett (3-3) Save: Kasen McCawley (1)
RECORDS	UNC Pembroke 42-12; Belmont Abbey 27-25

KEY INNINGS
TOP 1	Blake Hinson worked a leadoff walk, stole second, and would jog home on Joey Rezek's oppo-boppo to stake the Braves to a quick 2-0 lead.
TOP 3	Hinson once again walked and stole second, and would score on Michael Dolberry II's RBI double. Rezek scored Dolberry with an RBI double, while Spencer Faulkner followed with a 2-run blast to make it 6-0.
TOP 4	Jake Bradley reached on a leadoff single and moved to third on a Dolberry double. Rezek would bring them both home on a 2-run single to stretch the lead to 8-0.
TOP 7	Rezek picked up his fourth hit of the day with an infield single and advanced to 3rd on a Faulkner double, while Will Hood would score both with a single to make it 10-0.

UNCP LEADERS	BAC LEADERS
Joey Rezek 4-4, 2B, HR, 3 R, 5 RBI Spencer Faulkner 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI Will Hood 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI HL Smith W, 4.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 7 K	Connor Powell 1-2, BB

 

UP NEXT

The Braves will be back in action Thursday, May 16 as they begin regional tournament play. Stay tuned to uncpbraves.com for more information when it comes available.

 

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BACK THE BRAVES

Fans can help support the UNC Pembroke Baseball program by joining the Braves Club, or by making a gift directly to the program. To find out more information about the Braves Club, visit UNCPBraves.com/BravesClub or email braves.club@uncp.edu. To make a monetary gift, visit UNCPBraves.com/Give and indicate "baseball team" in notes section.