Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Mike Mercurio delivered an RBI-triple to break a 3-3 tie in the fifth, and Matt Dillon improved to 7-0 as nationally fourth-ranked Mount Olive ran away from Pfeiffer 14-4 in the opener of a Conference Carolinas doubleheader Saturday afternoon in Misenheimer, N.C. In the nightcap, Pfeiffer held the Trojans to just four hits in bringing Mount Olive's 22-game winning streak to an end 4-1.
In the opener, the Trojans watched a pair of early leads slip away, and went into the top of the fifth in a 3-3 deadlock. Will Bynum got the Trojan offense in gear with a lead-off single, then raced home on Mercurio's triple down the right field line. Mount Olive never gave up the lead again, scoring five runs in the frame. Antonio Callaway followed with an RBI-single. Geno Escalante doubled to extend his hitting streak to 31 games to drive in Callaway. A wild pitch and a double by Braden Reitano to make it 8-3.
Reitano enjoyed a big game, driving in four runs with a single and a double.
Pfeiffer picked up an unearned run in the sixth, but Mount Olive blew the game open in the seventh and two more in the eighth.
Doubles by Reitano and Nick Gaeta in the sixth brought home runs, and a wild pitch made it 11-4. Escalante doubled in a run in the eighth. Another scored on a groundout by Reitano.
Callaway scored five of the Trojans' runs, and was one of four Trojans to have two hits, joining Escalante, Reitano and Jacob Rogers. Callaway also slugged his third homer of the season.
On the mound, Dillon worked his way around early defensive woes, allowing just one earned run in eight innings of work. He walked four and struck out five. Ryan Poplin pitched a perfect ninth.
In the nightcap, Pfeiffer used a three-run third and Bryan Tuttle out-dueled Jake Moser in a 4-1 decision.
The Trojans (33-7 Overall, 19-3 Conference Carolinas) managed just a pair of hits from Escalante to extend his hitting streak to 33 games, and one apiece from Rogers and Cameron Sherrer.
Moser (7-2) allowed six hits and struck out six in getting the complete game.
The teams will conclude the weekend series Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Trojans host Barton Tuesday night in the Battle of the East at Scarborough Field at 7 p.m. Tuesday's contest will be dedicated to Jake May, a 17-year-old senior at Eastern Wayne High School and a member of the baseball team. Jake was diagnosed with leukemia in January and has been undergoing chemotherapy treatments. His leukemia is currently in remission.
Jake is the son of Roger May, who was a student at Mount Olive and a member of the baseball team in the early 80's. Roger May returned to MOC to serve as an assistant baseball coach under Carl Lancaster from 1987-95. He then went on to serve as Barton's head baseball coach from 1995-99.
Tickets for the game are $6 and all proceeds will be donated to Jake and his family. In addition, In addition, the newly renamed Highway 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries (formerly Andy's) will set up a stand to sell hamburgers, hot dogs and cheesesteaks at the game, and all of their proceeds will also be donated to Jake and his family.
The game will count towards both team's overall records, but will not be included in the teams' Conference Carolinas records.