GREENVILLE, S.C. (May 3) – After surrendering 13 runs with two outs, the No. 3 seeded University of Mount Olive baseball team suffered a 15-4 loss against No. 7 seed Belmont Abbey in the Conference Carolinas Tournament at CaroMont Health Park on Friday night.
With the loss, the Trojans drop to 35-15 overall and will return to action tomorrow, Saturday, May 3, to face No. 1 seed North Greenville in an elimination game at Sims Legion Park. Meanwhile, the Crusaders secure a third straight win at the league tournament to improve to 27-23 this season and advance to face No. 4 UNC Pembroke for a spot in the championship game at 4 p.m.
The Trojans stranded a runner in scoring position in the top of the first inning before Belmont Abbey opened the scoring in the bottom half of the frame with a two-run double down the left-field line, 2-0. In the bottom of the second, the Crusaders added to their lead with another two-run double with two outs to build a 4-0 advantage.
In the top of the third, sophomore Lane McLean laced a double through the left side before advancing to third on a groundout. With two outs, McLean crossed the plate on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 4-1. Belmont Abbey responded in the bottom half of the frame by scoring six runs, all with two outs, highlighted by a grand slam to left-center to take a 10-1 lead.
UMO stranded a pair of runners in scoring position on the top of the fourth despite a leadoff double to right-center from graduate student Landon Choboy. The Crusaders continued to extend their advantage in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out RBI double to hold an 11-1 lead. In the bottom half of the fifth, Belmont Abbey capitalized with two outs to score four more runs on three hits, 15-1.
Mount Olive brought across three runs on three hits in the top of the sixth after redshirt sophomore Anthony Mitta produced an RBI double to right field and graduate student Gordon Pihl delivered a pinch-hit two-run single to left-center, 15-4.
Graduate student Ethan Imbimbo was saddled with the loss (6-4) after surrendering four earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks in 1.2 innings pitched (55 pitches). The Trojan bullpen featured three relievers that yielded 11 runs on nine hits with six strikeouts and three walks. Senior Carson Hinnant tossed 1.0 inning of scoreless relief in the sixth frame.
The Trojans will play at Sims Legion Park and face North Greenville in an elimination game with the first pitch scheduled at noon.
