Matt Dillon tossed a five-hit shutout and Zak Orrison's RBI-double in the fourth broke a scoreless tie as Mount Olive blanked Coker 4-0 in game one of a Conference Carolinas baseball doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Scarborough Field. In the nightcap, Matt Petrone's three-run triple highlighted a seven-run, second-inning uprising and MOC completed the sweep 9-6.
In the opener, Dillon (5-1) and the Cobras' Dan Meyer took turns retiring opposing batters for the first three and one-half innings. In the bottom of the fourth, the Trojans finally broke through. A walk to Jermaine Berry, followed by a hit-batsman brought up Orrison with one out. Orrison launched a double down the left field line to break the tie.
Meyer escaped further damage by picking Orrison off second base. In the fifth, the Trojans got themselves plenty of breathing room.
Bryan Dunlavey, Will Bynum and Petrone delivered consecutive singles to lead off the frame. Braden Reitano then slugged a two-run double to center for a 4-0 cushion.
The lead was more than enough for Dillon, who picked up his second complete game and first shutout of the season. Dillon struck out four and walked two.
In the nightcap, it appeared Mount Olive (25-4 Overall, 11-3 Conference Carolinas) was on its way to an easy win and a series sweep. Instead, the Trojans held on for dear life thanks to sparkling defense and the relief pitching of Zach Smith (2-0) and Derek Justice.
Mount Olive built a 7-0 lead by sending 12 batters to the plate in the second inning. The first seven batters in the frame came around to score as the Trojans chased Coker starter Alex Hernandez (1-2).
Bretton Gouthro brought home the first run with an RBI-triple to right. Three batters later, Petrone followed suit. Petrone's triple, however, came with the bases loaded. Berry closed out the rally with a two-run double.
Trojan starter Chris Orphanos retired the first 10 batters he faced and was cruising along until things started coming apart in the fifth. The Cobras' first three batters reached in the inning on a double, a triple and a hit-batsman. A flyout later, a sacrifice fly and two run-scoring singles cut the Trojans' lead to 7-4.
Josh Frederick got Mount Olive out of the fifth with a groundout, but an error opened the door for trouble in the sixth. A walk followed, then a bunt single loaded the bases with no outs.
Smith quickly cooled off the Cobras when coaxed a double play grounder, which scored a run. Moments later a wild pitch made it 7-6. Smith, then Justice were able to bring stability back to the game for the Trojans. It paid off in the sixth and seventh when Mount Olive was able to add insurance runs.
In the sixth, Geno Escalante delivered a two-out RBI-double to right that made it 8-6. In the seventh, Orrison singled home Dunlavey with a ninth run.
The Trojans take a break from Conference Carolinas play this week as the Trojans welcome Chowan for a doubleheader Tuesday night beginning at 4 p.m.