TIGERVILLE, S.C. - The No. 11 University of Mount Olive baseball team took down top-seeded No. 8 Catawba College 6-5 in an elmination round in the 2021 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Saturday in Tigerville, S.C. The Trojans improve to 37-11 and Catawba's season comes to a close at 33-11.

GAME INFORMATION
Catawba jumped out to an early lead taking an RBI-double in the second as their first run-scoring base hit and move out to a 1-0 advantage.

UMO was able to find a response in the third when Vito Patierno singled into left center scoring Zack Smith and tied the game at one.

Mount Olive wasted no time pushing the go ahead runs in the fourth. Smith came through scoring the tie-breaking run in Alan Alonso home from third with a sacrifice fly and then the at-bat of game was set. Joe Mason lifted a pitch over the left field wall for a three-run home run and UMO led 5-1.

Dusty Baker added one more run for the Trojans in the fifth on an RBI-single up the middle and then the UMO bats went cold.

Catawba after not scoring a run since the second inning was able to push across three runs via a Hunter Shepherd home run in the eighth. This was the only run support the Indians were able to get but it was not the final run that scored for CC.

The Indians pushed home another run in the ninth but Blake Gipson was able to get a 5-4-3 double play to end the game and advanced UMO.

TROJAN LEADERS
Joe Mason led the Trojans with a 3-for-4 day and three RBI. Caleb Irwin (5-1) got the win going six complete allowing one run and struck out two. Blake Gipson (S:2) recorded his second save of the season pitching the final two outs of the game.

CATAWBA LEADERS
Hunter Shepherd collected three RBI to lead the way for the Indians.

KEY MOMENT
The four-run fourth broke the 1-1 tie for the Trojans and pushed them in front for good and gave them enough insurance to hold on for the victory.

ON DECK
Mount Olive advances into an elimination game and rematch against No. 3 seeded No. 16 Wingate University at 8 p.m.