Willi Martin went 3-for-4 in game two of the doubleheader as nationally fifth-ranked University of Mount Olive salvaged a split with a 14-1 victory over Concord in game two of a non-conference baseball doubleheader Sunday at Scarborough Field. Mount Olive fell 11-10 in 10 innings in the opener in the Trojans' first home game of the season.
Game One: Concord 11, Mount Olive 10 (10 innings)
Concord (1-0) started game one off with a bang as they plated three early runs off three hits. Joey Miller's two RBI-single to center field highlighted the inning.
The Mountain Lions big inning came in the fourth. The bases were loaded for Bret Blevins and he cleared them as he doubled to left center. Blevins advanced to third on a passed ball and after a walk Joe Camp brought home Ryan Johnston on an RBI-single up the middle. T.J. Brockway followed him with an RBI-single to right field that scored Miller. Concord led midway through the fourth 8-2.
The Trojans (4-3) responded in the sixth as Jay Gonzales laid a one out bunt down and beat it out and then proceeded to advance all the way to third after the ball sailed down the right field line. Zak Orrison's RBI-single to left field scored Gonzales. Back to back walks by Bradon Reitano and Rob Shipman loaded the bases. Justin Manning doubled to left center bringing home two more Trojan runners in Orrison and Reitano. Bretton Gouthro squeezed one by the shortstop and scored the final two runs of the inning for Mount Olive as Manning and Shipman crossed the dish to bring the game all even at eight.
Concord scored a solo run in the eight off back to back singles. Johnston's RBI-single up the middle scored Blevins who was standing on second after he got on with a two out base hit.
Mount Olive tied the game back after Shipman singled to center. Dylan Harvey came in for Shipman to pinch run and then stole second to second. Tyler Farmer walked and after Manning moved Harvey to third on a sacrifice fly, Farmer stole second. Gouthro's RBI-single through second scored Harvey.
No runs were scored in the ninth as the two teams went into extra innings to determine the Trojans home opener.
Jerrod Groves got the extra frames going for the Mountain Lions as he hit a long fly ball to the wall for a lead-off double. Blevins reached on a fielding error and advanced Groves to third. Johnston pushed the go ahead run with his RBI-single to left field as Groves scored. A wild pitch put both runners in scoring position for Miller as he used a sacrifice fly to score Blevins to give Concord the 11-9 lead.
Farmer started the bottom of the tenth for the Trojans by getting on with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Manning advanced him to third and Gouthro's fourth RBI of the game came home as he grounded out to the second baseman and the rally was cut to just one run as the Trojans could not complete the come back to win the home opener in game one.
Game Two: Mount Olive 14, Concord 1
The Trojans (5-3) offense started the nightcap off with a walk by Gonzales in the first inning. Gonzales stole second and set up Reitano's RBI-single past the diving third baseman to give Mount Olive the early 1-0 lead.
Mount Olive rebounded from the long four hour and fifteen minute game one and put up a seven spot in the seventh all with two outs. Deandre Allen started the inning with a single through the left side Reitano was hit by a pitch and then and infield fly halted any movement by the Trojans. A fly out to the shortstop set the scene for Manning to work out a walk.
Then the big blow of the game came off the bat of Willi Martin as he crushed a ball to the left center field wall clearing the bases as Manning, Reitano, and Allen all scored. Britt followed suit with a back to back RBI-double to left center as Martin scored.
Orrison was walked and then after Gonzales was hit by a pitch, the bases were again loaded. Allen walked in a run as Britt scored as the Trojans batted around. Orrison then scored on a passed ball. Reitano was walked then Shipman walked in the final run.
Jordy Farthing (2-0) worked a very strong five innings to pick up his second win of the season only giving up one run and striking out six. Josh Frederick (2) worked the remainder and picked up his second save as he allowed just one hit over four innings and struck out five.
Both games combined for eight hours of baseball in Mount Olive's home opener.
The two teams conclude their three-game series with a single game Monday at Scarborough Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.