Geno Escalante's bases-loaded single with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning broke the school record for the longest hitting streak and gave nationally third-ranked Mount Olive a 5-4 come-from-behind win over North Greenville in game one of a Conference Carolinas baseball doubleheader Saturday at Scarborough Field. In the nightcap, Escalante's rbi-single in a three-run first inning in the nightcap extended his streak to 37 and helped spark the Trojans to a rain-shortened 11-5 victory for a three-game series sweep.
In the opener, Escalante's hitting streak appeared over after he grounded into a fielder's choice in the sixth. In the seventh, however, Mike Mercurio was hit by a pitch with two strikes and the bases empty to get things started.
Braden Reitano followed with a single to left, then Jacob Rogers walked to give Escalante a final chance to extend the hitting streak to 35 games. Escalante drilled a grounder through the Crusader infield, scoring the tying and winning runs without a throw.
Chris Hinton (4-0) came out of the bullpen to get the Trojans out of a jam in the top of the seventh and earn the win. Mount Olive starter Zach Smith pitched into the seventh, allowing eight hits and one earned run.
North Greenville scored three unearned runs in the fifth to build a 4-0 cushion behind starter Ryan Woodring. In the sixth, however, the Trojans came roaring back. With one on and two outs, Jermaine Berry singled and a wild pitch moved runners to second and third. Cameron Sherrer then delivered a two-run single and Callaway singled to close the gap to 4-3.
In the nightcap, the Trojans (38-7 overall, 23-3 Conference Carolinas) scored eight consecutive runs after falling behind early. Mercurio, Callaway, Reitano and Sherrer each had two hits in the game, which was called because of rain in the top of the seventh.
Escalante did not wait until the last at-bat to stretch his hitting streak to 36 games, slapping an RBI-single that tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first. An error and a Reitano double put the Trojans ahead to stay 3-1.
A pair of North Greenville errors in the second opened the door for three more runs. Rogers added a two-run single as well. Rogers, Escalante and Sherrer each drove in a pair in support of starter Jake Moser (8-2). Moser fought his way through trouble, allowing three earned runs in five innings. Derek Justice pitched two effective innings of relief.
In the fourth, Escalante showed off his speed, stealing home when the Crusaders tried to pick Berry. off second base.
The Crusaders (26-23, 14-13) made things interesting in the top of the fifth thanks to an RBI-groundout by Anthony Foulk and a two-run homer by Allen Staton. The blast cut the lead to 8-4. In the bottom of the inning, the Trojans got two of the runs back on sacrifice flies by Escalante and Berry.
A sacrifice fly by Mercurio in the seventh padded the lead.
The Trojans head to the Conference Carolinas Tournament in Wilson, N.C. as the top seed. The tournament begins Thursday and runs through Monday at Fleming Stadium.
