GASTONIA, N.C. (May 2) – Redshirt senior Erik Johnson delivered a masterpiece on the mound with 12 strikeouts in a complete-game victory, as the No. 3 seeded Trojans defeated No. 4 Barton by a 3-2 margin in the opening round of Conference Carolinas Tournament at CaroMont Health Park on Thursday night.
With the win, the University of Mount Olive baseball program improves to 35-14 this season while securing a significant regional victory. The Trojans advance to face Belmont Abbey in the winner's bracket tomorrow, Friday, May 3, at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, Barton drops to 34-15 overall and will face No. 2 Young Harris in an elimination game at 1 p.m. on Friday.
Johnson recorded his best performance of the season in the opening round of the postseason to improve to 7-3 on the mound. He yielded two earned runs on five hits with 12 strikeouts and one walk in a complete-game victory (138 pitches). Johnson retired the side in order four times and late in the game set down eight-straight batters.
In the bottom of the first, graduate students Dylan Jeffries and Landon Choboy registered back-to-back singles with two outs before advancing into scoring position on a throwing error. The next at-bat, senior Alden Cottle laced a two-run single through the right side to take a 2-0 advantage.
Following a pair of scoreless innings, Barton cut into the deficit in the top of the fourth with a two-out RBI double down the left-field line, 2-1.
In the bottom of the eighth, seniors David Cucci and Vito Patierno led off the frame with consecutive singles to right field. With runners on the corners, Jeffries recorded an RBI on a fielder's choice to stretch the lead to 3-1. In the top of the ninth, the Bulldogs closed the gap to 3-2 with a pinch-hit solo homer to left-center with two outs, but Johnson finished the game with a strikeout to seal the win.
Mount Olive returns to CaroMont Health Park tomorrow, Friday, May 3, to face No. 7 seed Belmont Abbey in the winner's bracket with a first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.
