Mount Olive Wins Series Finale Against Concord

Mount Olive Wins Series Finale Against Concord

The University of Mount Olive took the series finale against Concord University Monday afternoon with an 8-4 win in non-conference baseball at Scarborough Field in Mount Olive, N.C.

Gunner Hines had a strong outing on the hill for the Trojans (6-3) as he went seven innings only allowing three runs to pick up his second win of the year.

Hines took a hit early as the Mountain Lions (1-2) got the first started off quick with Andrew Seigel's bunt for a single. Jerrod Groves moved him around to third with a line shot down the right field line. Bret Blevins sacrifice fly to left scored Seigel and Concord got the first run on the board.

Ryan Johnston reached first on a fielding error and Groves moved over third on the play. A second sacrifice fly by Joey Miller scored Groves. Joe camp walked and pushed Johnston to second. T.J. Brockway's RBI-single to right field scored the final run in the inning as Johnston crossed.

Hines calmed down after a rocky start and shut down the Mountain Lions as he put zeros on the board throughout the remainder of his start.

The Trojans responded in the first with two perfectly placed bunt singles by Jay Gonzales and DeAndre Allen as speed proved to be on Mount Olive's side. With two outs Rob Shipman singled to center field and Gonzales came around to score. Willi Martin followed him with another single to put runners in scoring position again. Justin Manning's RBI down the right field line brought home the tying runs as Martin and Shipman scored.

Allen walked to start off the fifth as Mount Olive looked to break the deadlock. Allen was caught stealing as a great throw from the catcher got to him just in time. Bradon Reitano hit a laser to the shortstop for a single and the Trojans were back in business. Shipman moved Reitano over to third on a single to left field.

Martin was hit by a pitch and it loaded the bases for the Trojans. Manning was walked and the tie was broken as Mount Olive took the 4-3 lead. Chase Edwards came in to pinch hit and was hit by a pitch as he picked up the RBI as Shipman scored. The next two runs came off a fielder's choice from Cody Britt as Martin scored and then Manning came busting in from all the way from second to score off a crazy play in which the ball came off the first basemen's glove.

The four runs scored in the fifth were more than enough to give Hines the win. Zach Bernard (1) came in for the save finishing the final two innings giving up only one run and allowing three hits.

Mount Olive returns to action tomorrow as they host Lenior-Rhyne in a doubleheader at Scarborough Field. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.