MOUNT OLIVE (March 21) – Behind a no-hitter by senior starter
Ethan Imbimbo in Game 2 and an unbelievable walk-off performance in Game 1, the University of Mount Olive baseball team recorded a doubleheader sweep over No. 21 UNC Pembroke on Thursday in Conference Carolinas action at Scarborough Field.
With the sweep, the Trojans extend their winning streak to five straight and improve to 19-8 this season with a 10-3 record in conference play. UMO holds a 32-18 record in the all-time series dating back to 1986 while also winning the previous three meetings. Meanwhile, the Braves drop to 21-8 overall behind a 7-7 mark in league action.
In Game 2, Imbimbo joined exclusive company in UMO history after recording the first no-hitter since UMO Hall of Famer, Carter Capps achieved the feat against Coker on March 12, 2011 in nine innings. Imbimbo pitched 7.0 innings (88 pitches) and tallied six strikeouts and zero walks while facing 21 batters. He improved to 5-0 on the mound and retired the side in order in all seven innings.
At the plate, sophomore
Lane McLean finished 3-for-3 with four RBIs while senior
Vito Patierno went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and a stolen base. Fifth-year
David Cucci tallied three RBIs and three runs scored with a pair of walks in the Game 2 win.
Following a scoreless first inning, McLean belted a two-run double to right-center with two outs to take an early 2-0 lead in the second frame. UMO would add to the lead in the bottom of the third after senior
Landon Choboy recorded an RBI on a sacrifice fly to left field, 3-0.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Trojans tallied four runs on three hits to stretch the advantage to 7-0, highlighted by a three-run triple to left-center by Cucci. Mount Olive brought across four more runs in the sixth as senior
Joshua Kabayama produced an infield RBI single and McLean tallied two more RBIs on a single through the right side, 11-0.
In Game 1, the Trojans trailed by a score of 8-4 entering the bottom of the ninth before scoring five unanswered runs to steal Game 1. Senior
Alden Cottle led off the inning with a single to right field before a walk and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases. With one out, senior
Joshua Kabayama delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to cut the deficit to 8-5 before a wild pitch moved a pair of runners into scoring position. The next at-bat, sophomore
Davis Halstead produced a pinch-hit RBI single to right field to close the gap to 8-6. With the bases loaded, consecutive batters were hit-by-pitch to tie the contest at 8-8 before Cottle registered a walk-off hit-by-pitch to seal a 9-8 win.
UNC Pembroke established an early 3-0 advantage through the opening three frames of the contest. The Trojans answered back in the bottom of the third with three runs on one hit. With two outs, UMO drew three straight walks before senior
Landon Choboy laced a two-run single to center field, 3-2. The Trojans later tied the game at 3-3 on a wild pitch that scored Cottle from third.
The Braves countered with three more runs over the next three innings, but Mount Olive responded with an RBI ground out from Patierno in the bottom of the sixth, 6-4. UNCP managed to score two additional runs to hold an 8-4 advantage heading into the bottom of the ninth.
The Trojans featured seven pitchers in Game 1, as junior
Thomas Hill received the win (1-0) after recording the final two outs of the ninth inning while tallying a strikeout.
The Trojans will complete the series with UNC Pembroke on Sunday, March 24, at Scarborough Field with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
