Chase Edwards' two-run double and DeAndre Allen's three-run double highlighted a six-run third inning as nationally fourth-ranked University of Mount Olive defeated national vote-getter Winston-Salem State University 9-5 in game one of a non-conference baseball doubleheader Saturday at Winston-Salem, N.C. Trojan Starting pitcher Alex Regan went six innings allowing four runs over eight hits and striking out seven to earn his first win of the season. Saturday's doubleheader marked the season openers for both teams.
Jordy Farthing, Brody McDonald, and Derek Justice combined for a six hit one unearned run pitching performance nationally fourth-ranked University of Mount Olive completed the doubleheader sweep of Winston-Salem State 4-1. Rob Shipman led the Trojans with two rbi's.
Bradon Reitano had the Trojans off and firing early with a two out homerun to left field to give Mount Olive a little spark in the first inning.
The Rams answered in their home half of the first with Ray Crawford's rbi-double to right center that scored Lel Clemmons tying the game.
The deciding blow was dealt in the third inning for Mount Olive as the Trojans scored six runs. After two errors Edwards rbi-double scored Orrison and Gonzales. Back-to back singles set up a sacrifice fly by Colby Conway that allowed Edwards to cross. The final shot came when Allen smacked a bases clearing double as Cody Britt, Willi Martin, and Shipman scored. The big inning put Mount Olive up 7-1.
The Trojans added two more runs in the top half of the forth and the Rams again answered with two runs in their home half.
Winston-Salem State only scored one more run in the seventh as the Trojan pitching staff shut down the Rams for good as Josh Frederick and Kodi Whitley combined to finish out the game allowing only five hits and one unearned run over three innings.
In game two of the doubleheader the Trojans loaded the bases in the first inning and it started with Zak Orrison's single to shortstop. Orrison and Reitano scored on a fielder's choice to give Mount Olive the early 2-0 advantage.
The sole run for the Rams came off a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third after the bases were loaded after two hit batters and a walk. This became the only offense for Winston-Salem State as the Mount Olive pitching staff shut down the Rams for the remainder of the game only allowing six hits scattered throughout the last six innings.
Mount Olive got back to work scoring its third run of the game after Reitano walked in the sixth. Reitano advanced to second on a groundout to the pitcher and scored on Shipman's rbi-single to center field.
The Trojans finished off the game in the eighth when back-to-back singles by Orrison and Reitano were capped off with Edward's rbi-single that scored Orrison.
Trojan pitcher McDonald (1-0) was credited with the win as he came in and pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Farthing who had allowed only one hit and an unearned run. Justice (1) earned the save striking out two over three innings.
The teams finish the three game series tomorrow afternoon at BB&T Ballpark in Winston-Salem, N.C. First pitch scheduled for 1 pm.