MOUNT OLIVE (Feb. 15) – Redshirt senior
Mike Kenney brought the winning run home on a single out to left field in the bottom of the fifth, as the No. 11 ranked University of Mount Olive baseball program secured the series victory over Francis Marion on a cold, cloudy Saturday afternoon.
With the win, the Trojans improve to 7-3 overall with a 2-1 mark in Conference Carolinas action. Mount Olive picked up a massive Conference Carolinas series win early in the season against the Patriots, who were receiving votes in the NCBWA rankings. Meanwhile, Francis Marion falls to 9-2 this season and 1-2 in league play.
In the top of the second inning, FMU took an early 1-0 lead. After a hit-by-pitch and a couple of singles, the Patriots hit a sacrifice fly to right field, driving in the game's first run. Unable to find a rhythm early on, the Trojans were unable to bring around any offense until the bottom of the fourth inning. After a sacrifice bunt from senior
Rowan Watt to move a runner into scoring position, redshirt junior
Anthony Mitta hit an RBI single to tie the contest at 1-1.
In the top of the fifth, Mount Olive kept the momentum rolling and took advantage of the pitching change, scoring two runs on two hits. Following a lead-off walk and a fielding error to begin the frame, FMU managed to turn a double-play while a runner reached third. Redshirt sophomore
Jon Howard belted an RBI double to right field before Kenney hit an RBI single to left field to take a 3-1 edge.
The Patriots answered in the top of the sixth after scoring off an error and a wild pitch. Undaunted in the face of a single-run lead, graduate student
Hayden Myrick grounded out two batters and struck out the pinch hitter in three at-bats in the ninth inning to seal the save and the series.
Kenney reached base three times with a single, walk, and hit by pitch. Senior Wade Kelley also reached base three times following a single and two walks, additionally advancing the bases with his fourth stolen base of the year.
Junior
Lucas Glover was awarded the win (1-0) after surrendering one earned run on four hits with three strikeouts in 5.0 innings pitched. Junior
Raleigh Walker tossed 1.0 inning, surrendering one unearned run on two hits with one strikeout. Senior
Gavin Wilson took 2.0 scoreless frames allowing no runs on one hit.
The Trojans will play next on Tuesday, Feb. 18 against No. 18 Catawba at Scarborough Field, in a non-conference midweek matchup, starting at 3 p.m.
