MIAMI SHORE, Fla. (Feb. 1) – After stranding 12 runners on base on Saturday night, the University of Mount Olive baseball program suffered a narrow 2-1 loss at Barry in non-conference action.
With the loss, the Trojans drop to 1-1 overall with their season-opening Florida trip concluding tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 2 against Palm Beach Atlantic. Barry and Mount Olive met for a consecutive year with the series tied at 1-1 all-time. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers improve to 2-0 behind a pair of one-run victories.
Mount Olive threatened in the top of the first inning after a single, walk, and a fielding error loading the bases with no outs. Barry managed to escape with no damage after a strikeout and a pair of foul outs. Following a scoreless second frame, the Bucs got on the board in the bottom of the third with two runs on two hits. Barry reached base to begin the inning with a hit-by-pitch before a single and a balk moved two runners into scoring position. The next at-bat, Jimmy Bruno laced a two-run single up the middle, 2-0.
In the top of the fourth, the Trojans cut into the deficit with an RBI single from junior
Kayden Crawford, 2-1. The Trojans had a chance to add more runs in the frame but left the bases loaded.
Barry nearly added to its lead in the bottom of the seventh after loading with bases with two outs, but UMO escaped to keep it a one-run game. In the top of the ninth, Mount Olive managed to get a pair of runners on base with two outs but were unable to get across the game-tying run following a fielder's choice.
Junior
Carson Gipson took the loss (0-1) after yielding two earned runs on three hits with four strikeouts and three walks in 3.0 innings. Freshman
Pete Honse had a stellar debut after tossing 4.0 scoreless frames in relief with six strikeouts and one walk. Senor
Gavin Wilson also pitched 1.0 inning of relief with two strikeouts and one walk.
The Trojans conclude their Florida trip on Sunday, Feb. 2, at Palm Beach Atlantic with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
