Mike Mercurio homered for the third consecutive game and four Trojans held host Pfeiffer to seven hits as Mount Olive completed a three-game sweep of the Falcons with a 9-4 Conference Carolinas win Sunday afternoon at Misenheimer, N.C. With the win, the nationally top-ranked Trojans carry a 21-game winning streak into this week's conference baseball tournament in Burlington, N.C.
Mercurio continued his torrid streak setting the wheels in motion during a five-run third inning. His RBI-single brought home Colby Conway with the tying run. Jermaine Berry followed with a two-run single, then Bretton Gouthro and Daniel Oliver followed with RBI-singles of their own.
The run support was more than plenty for Trojan starter Derek Justice (4-1) who worked his way around a pair of Pfeiffer homers to hurl six effective innings. He allowed five hits in all and three earned runs. Teammates Josh Frederick, Matt Hinkle and Chris Orphanos each delivered a shutout inning of relief.
The long ball made things interesting in the bottom of the third when Pfeiffer's (18-29 Overall, 11-12 Conference Carolinas) Izzy Perez delivered his sixth blast of the season to trim the lead to 5-3. Mount Olive (43-4, 20-3) responded in the fourth on Orrison's solo homer, his second of the campaign. An inning later, an infield hit and a throwing error brought home one run for the Trojans, then Mercurio hit his eighth homer to blow the game open.
Mount Olive begins play in the Conference Carolinas Tournament Thursday at the Burlington Royals Athletic Stadium in Burlington, N.C. Games will be held at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. the first day. Match-ups will be determined after the completion of Sunday's regular-season contests.