GASTONIA, N.C. (May 4) – Competing in rainy conditions on Saturday night in the Conference Carolinas Tournament, the No. 3 seeded Trojans rallied from an early deficit and scored nine-straight runs to upset No. 1 seed North Greenville in an elimination game at CaroMont Health Park.
With the win, the University of Mount Olive baseball team secured a critical regionally-ranked win and improved to 36-15 this season. The Trojans will play tomorrow, Sunday, May 5, against Erskine in an elimination game at 2 p.m. Meanwhile, North Greenville, the regular season champions, were eliminated from the league tournament and dropped to 41-12 overall.
The Trojans left a runner on third in the top of the first before NGU grabbed an early 1-0 edge in the bottom half of the frame. The Crusaders produced a leadoff single up the middle before the base runner advanced to third on a failed pickoff. An infield RBI single to the shortstop allowed the opening run to score. Following a scoreless second inning, UMO escaped a jam in the bottom of the third after stranding a pair of North Greenville runners in scoring position.
In the top of the fourth, graduate student Landon Choboy drew a leadoff walk before senior Alden Cottle laced a double off the top of the right-field wall with no outs. The Crusaders managed to record three outs to remain ahead by a 1-0 margin. In the fifth, the Trojans loaded the bases with two walks and a hit-by-pitch with one out, but a double play once again allowed NGU to escape with zero damage. North Greenville extended its lead in the bottom half of the fifth with a two-run homer to left-center to build a 3-0 advantage.
Mount Olive began its rally in the top of the sixth after opening the inning by loading the bases with two walks and a hit-by-pitch. Graduate student Gordon Pihl registered an RBI on an infield groundout before redshirt sophomore Anthony Mitta crossed the plate on a wild pitch, 3-2. With two outs, the Trojans reloaded the bases with two walks before graduate student Dylan Jeffries hit a two-run single through the right side to take a 4-3 edge.
In the top of the seventh, redshirt junior Mike Kenney produced a leadoff double down the right-field line before Mitta drew a walk, and sophomore Lane McLean reached base on a bunt single. With one out, fifth-year David Cucci recorded an RBI on a hit-by-pitch while senior Vito Patierno extended the lead with an RBI on a fielder's choice, 6-3. The Trojans brought across three more runs in the eighth, highlighted by an RBI double to left field by McLean and a two-run double from Cucci, 9-3.
NGU managed to score one additional run in the bottom of the eighth before UMO escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to secure the 9-4 win.
McLean finished 2-for-3 with one RBI, two runs scored, and two walks while Cucci went 1-for-3 with three RBIs, one run scored, and two walks.
Redshirt senior Greyson Linderman took a no-decision after surrendering three runs (two earned) on five hits with one strikeout and one walk in 4.1 innings pitched (71 pitches). Senior Hayden Myrick earned the win (3-1) after yielding one earned run on four hits with five strikeouts and two walks in 3.1 innings (63 pitches). Senior Andrew Ledbetter tossed 1.1 innings of scoreless relief with two strikeouts to close out the game.
Mount Olive returns to the CaroMont Health Park tomorrow, Sunday, May 5, to face Erskine in an elimination game, starting at 2 p.m.
