HARTSVILLE, S.C. (Feb. 6) – In a low-scoring affair on Tuesday afternoon, the No. 20 ranked University of Mount Olive baseball team fell by a 3-2 margin at Coker in non-conference action.
With the loss, the Trojans begin the 2024 season with a 0-1 record after being ranked in the preseason National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Top 25 poll. The two sides met for a fifth consecutive season and UMO boasts a 14-3 record in the series dating back to 2012. Meanwhile, the Cobras improve to 2-2 overall after playing a three-game series versus Belmont Abbey last week.
After three scoreless innings, Coker registered back-to-back singles in the bottom of the fourth before delivering an infield RBI single to take a 1-0 advantage. Mount Olive managed to respond in the top of the seventh and tie the contest at 1-1. Redshirt sophomore
Anthony Mitta drew a walk with one out before graduate student
Gordon Pihl delivered a pinch-hit single to center field. Both base runners advance during the next at-bat on a wild pitch before redshirt junior
Mike Kenney produced a sacrifice fly to left field to score Mitta from third.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Cobras scored on a bases-loaded passed ball before later crossing the plate on a wild pitch to build the lead to 3-1. The Trojans answered back in the top of the ninth with a leadoff solo homer from Mitta, his first of the season, to cut the deficit to 3-2 with no outs. UMO drew a walk during the following at-bat before moving into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. The Trojans were unable to score the game-tying run, as Coker secured the 3-2 victory.
Senior
Justin Koehler earned the start and surrendered one earned run on four hits while recording seven strikeouts over 5.0 innings. Redshirt senior transfer
Greyson Linderman yielded two runs (one earned) on one hit in 2.0 innings of relief while senior
Hayden Myrick registered 1.0 inning of scoreless relief.
Mount Olive returns to action on Friday, Feb. 9, when it begins a three-game road trip in Florida and faces Barry in the first contest, starting at 6 p.m.
