HARTSVILLE, S.C. (March 11) – After surrendering a season-high in runs and issuing 13 walks on Tuesday evening, the No. 16 ranked University of Mount Olive baseball team saw its winning streak snapped with an 18-2 loss at Coker in non-conference play.
With the loss, the Trojans see the end of a nine-game winning streak and drop to 18-6 overall behind a 4-3 mark on the road. Mount Olive and Coker split the season series after the Trojans claimed the first contest back on Feb. 5 by a 3-2 margin in 11 innings. Meanwhile, the Cobras improves to 16-8 this season with a 14-4 record at home.
UMO established a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first inning after junior
Kayden Crawford crossed the plate following a throwing error by the second baseman. Coker responded in the bottom half of the frame with four runs on three hits, highlighted by a pair of two-run singles, 4-1.
The Trojans were held without a hit over the next five innings, while the Cobras added to their lead with two runs on two hits in the bottom of the third to stretch the lead to 6-1. UMO managed to trim the deficit in the top of the seventh as junior
Ryder Hancock delivered an RBI single to center field, 6-2.
Coker managed to break open the contest in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings, scoring 12 combined runs on five hits to ultimately seal an 18-2 victory.
Mount Olive featured 12 total pitchers, as junior
Raleigh Walker was saddled with the loss (1-2) after yielding four runs (two unearned) on three hits in 1.0 inning pitched. Redshirt junior
Lane Roberson, freshman
Kole Hopkins, redshirt sophomore J.J. Devos, and senior
Witt Branham each tossed at least 1.0 inning of scoreless relief.
Mount Olive will begin a three-game series versus UNC Pembroke in Cary, North Carolina, at the USA Baseball National Training Complex on Friday, March 14, with a single nine-inning game at 4 p.m.
