The University of Mount Olive completes doubleheader sweep of Lenoir-Rhyne University with 7-2 and 6-1 wins at Scarborough Field Tuesday in non-conference baseball in Mount Olive, N.C.
Game One: (Mount Olive 7 Lenoir-Rhyne 2)
The Trojans (7-3) were backed by a dominating performance by starting pitcher Derek Justice (2-1) who went the distance to pick up the complete game victory.
He was given all the offense he needed in the fourth as Rob Shipman was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and after a strikeout and a fly out, Chase Edwards moved Shipman to third. Cody Britt walked and Zak Orrison's RBI-single with the bases loaded to right field scored Shipman and Edwards.
Orrison took off for third and got caught however an errant throw by the pitcher that sailed into center field allowed him to take second and then go to third. Britt also scored on the play and Mount Olive had the 5-2 lead.
Mount Olive added two more runs in the sixth and gave Justice the cushion he needed to shut down the seventh.
In the top of the seventh the Bears (3-7) got a lead-off base runner after Josh Murphy was hit by a pitch. Jordyn Cruz got on by a fielder's choice and eliminated Murphy at second. Justice got the 6-4-3 double play to end the game and the Trojans won game one.
Justice went the distance allowing two runs on four hits and striking out four.
Game Two: (Mount Olive 6 Lenoir-Rhyne 1)
Mount Olive (8-3) and their potent offense got rolling early in the bottom of the first as the speedy Jay Gonzales laid down a drag bunt and beat out the throw for a lead-off single. A passed ball advanced Gonzales to second and DeAndre Allen placed a second bunt down and beat out the throw as well and Gonzales moved over to third. Bradon Reitano reached on a fielding error by the shortstop and picked up the RBI as Gonzales scored and Allen advanced to third.
Reitano moved to second on a wild pitch and Shipman walked to set up Justin Manning reaching on a fielder's choice. Shipman was out at second but Allen came home on the play. The big two out knock came from Cody Britt as he singled up the middle and Manning and Reitano scored. Four runs crossed on three hits in the inning.
Lenoir-Rhyne (3-8) scored their sole run in the third as Nate Martin lead off the inning with a single up the middle. Ray Plymette reached on a fielder's choice putting out Martin at second. Chase Hathcock walked and a single through the right side by Mike Gasque loaded the bases. Ivan Vieitez worked out a bases loaded walk to earn the RBI and the only run the Bears managed in game two as tough pitching held them to only five hits in the contest.
Orrison hit a line shot down the left field line to lead off the bottom of the fourth with a double. Gonzales followed suit with a bunt single and Orrison used his speed to get to third. Allen singled to left center and the Trojans scored their final two runs as Orrison and Gonzales touched home plate.
The six runs were all the Trojan pitching staff needed as Brody McDonald (2-1) earned the win. Talton Cherry and Taylor Carr came in relief to pitch the final three innings. McDonald allowed just the one run on four Bear hits and struck out three. Cherry and Carr combined for three innings of one hit ball.
Mount Olive returns to the diamond this weekend as the host California (Pa.) in a three game series starting Saturday with a doubleheader and concluding with a single game Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. Saturday.