TIGERVILLE, S.C. (March 10) – The Trojan offense with limited to four combined runs on 10 hits on Sunday afternoon, as UMO suffered a pair of losses in a doubleheader at No. 2 North Greenville in Conference Carolinas play.
With the losses, the University of Mount Olive baseball team drops to 13-7 overall with a 6-3 mark in league action. The teams have met nine times over the previous two seasons with the Crusaders holding a 5-4 edge during that stretch. Meanwhile, North Greenville takes the series and improves to 19-4 this season behind an 8-1 record in conference play.
In Game 1, the Trojans loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the first inning before a fielder's choice allowed NGU to escape the early jam. In the bottom half, the Crusaders established a 2-0 edge following an RBI double to left-center before recording RBI single through the left side during the next at-bat. After a scoreless second frame, senior
Vito Patierno delivered a leadoff single to right field before teammate
Alden Cottle registered an RBI single to left-center to cut the deficit to 2-1.
North Greenville regained its two-run lead in the fourth on an RBI single through the right side before UMO stranded a pair of runners on base in the top of the fifth. The Crusaders added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run homer to left field to earn a 5-1 win.
Senior
Erik Johnson suffered the loss (2-1) after surrendering five earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts and three walks in 4.0 innings. Junior
Matt Poole tossed the final two innings and allowed zero runs on two hits in relief.
In Game 2, NGU left four runners on base in the initial two innings before grabbing a 1-0 advantage in the third on an RBI ground out. The Crusaders extended the lead to 3-0 in the fourth with a solo homer down the left-field line before producing an RBI double to left-center.
The Trojans answered in the top of the fifth with a solo homer to left field by fifth-year
David Cucci, his second of the season. Later in the frame, junior
Cooper George scored on a wild pitch to trim the deficit to 3-2. Following a scoreless sixth inning, NGU capitalized on a pair of leadoff walks to score on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly to build a 5-2 lead.
In the ninth, the Trojans drew two walks with one out before advancing into scoring position on a wild pitch. A hit-by-pitch loaded the bases and graduate student
Gordon Pihl delivered a sacrifice fly to right field before a strikeout ended the game, 5-3.
Sophomore
Carson Gipson was saddled with the loss (2-1) after yielding three earned runs on seven hits with one strikeout and one walk in 4.0 innings pitched. Junior
Aiken Minton tossed 1.2 innings of scoreless relief with one hit allowed in his appearance out of the bullpen.
Mount Olive returns to Scarborough Field on Tuesday, March 12, when it hosts Saint Michael's for a non-conference game at 4 p.m.
