The University of Mount Olive splits offensive slug fest with California University (Pa.) 6-1 and 6-4 at Scarborough Field Saturday afternoon in non-conference baseball in Mount Olive, N.C.
Game one 6-1: Bradon Reitano crushes two long home runs to left field to lift the Trojans (9-3) past California (0-1) 6-1 in game one of the doubleheader.
Reitano yanked an inside pitch foul and took the next pitch down the left field line and curved it around the foul pole for a home run putting the Trojans on the board first in the bottom of the first inning.
The Vulcans tied the game up when lead-off batter Giovanni Morales singled to right center. Mike Fennell sacrificed him over with a bunt and Ben Carson followed with a single to center and Morales moved over to third. Matt Peters' sacrifice fly brought home the tying run with Morales.
Jay Gonzales got a lead-off walk in the bottom of the third and stole second. He then advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. DeAndre Allen's sacrifice fly scored Gonzales to break the tie ball game. Reitano took another hanging breaking ball over the left field fence for his fourth home run on the year and gave the Trojans a two run lead.
In the bottom of the eight Mount Olive added three more runs none of them coming off hits. Allen walked, Reitano doubled down the left field line and Rob Shipman was hit by a pitch. Chase Edwards reached on a fielder's choice that scored Allen and Reitano when the throw from the third basemen went to the backstop.
The offensive was all starter Kodi Whitley (1-0) needed to pick up his first win on the year. Whitley went seven innings giving up one run on seven hits and striking out two. Josh Frederick (3) came in for the save throwing two combined one hit innings and striking out one Vulcan batter.
Game Two 6-4: Cody Britt went 2-for3 for Mount Olive but it was not enough to overcome a three run deficit in the seventh as the Trojans drop the 6-4 lose to California in the nightcap.
The Vulcans (1-1) scored first in the top of the first off a Matt Peters sacrifice fly that scored Mick Fennell.
Mount Olive (9-4) responded in the third with back to back singles from Britt and Zak Orrison (Bunt). Gonzales moved the runners over on a sacrifice bunt and Britt scored on a wild pitch. Allen scored Orrison, who was on third, with an infield out to give the Trojans the 2-1 lead. The score remained deadlocked at 3-1 until the seventh.
Blake Henderson lead-off with a walk and Ben Carson followed with a one out single through the left side of the infield. Peters singled to right field and the bases were loaded. Chris Mitko and Chuck Gasti drew back to back bases loaded walks to tie the game at three.
Derrik Zeroski singled down the left field line and brought home two more Vulcan runners as Mitko and Peters scored. Zak Schmidt got the final tally of the inning with a RBI-single to center as Gasti came in to score to give California a 6-3 lead.
Britt got the Trojans rolling in the bottom of the seventh as he led it off with a single up the middle. After a pop out, Gonzales singled through the left side. Allen scored the sole run for Mount Olive as he single through the left side as well and Britt scored. A strikeout and a fielder's choice ended the seventh for Mount Olive.
The loss for Mount Olive snapped a five game win streak.
The Trojans return to action tomorrow for the rubber match verses California (Pa.) at Scarborough Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.