Bradon Reitano homers for the second day in a row as the University of Mount Olive explodes for 23 hits to take game three from California University (Pa.) 23-2 at Scarborough Field in Mount Olive, N.C. The Trojans blasted home 10 runs in the first inning to set the pace for an impressive 23 hit afternoon and win the series 2-1.
Jay Gonzales doubled down the left field line to start off the inning and DeAndre Allen beat out a bunt single to advance him to third. Reitano doubled down the left field line to bring home Gonzales. Chase Edwards doubled into left and brought home Reitano and Allen. Willi Martin connected for the fifth straight base hit and Edwards came home.
Dylan Harvey came up with a one out single to center field and advanced Martin to second. Cody Britt reached on a fielding error by the second basemen and the bases were loaded. Zak Orrison brought two in with a RBI-single up the middle and advanced to second on the throw home; Harvey and Martin scored.
Gonzales came back up to the plate as the Trojans (10-4) batted around and brought home a run on a sacrifice fly to center. The big bomb came from Reitano as he blasted a long shot to left field into the trees over the Piggly Wiggly sign and Allen and Orrison joined him at the plate for his fifth home run on the season.
Mount Olive tallied 10 runs in the inning off eight hits and one error.
The Trojans added two runs in the bottom of the second and single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. However they added another big set in the eighth.
Chandler Smetana singled with one out through the right side the give Mount Olive a base runner. Reitano used the big fly one more time as he lifted second home run, sixth of the season, to left field. Bretton Gouthro got on with a two out single to right field. Austin Below walked and Tyler Farmer singled to left to load the bases.
Bradley Ragan was hit by a pitch and picked up his first RBI of the season as Gouthro scored and the bases were still loaded. Orrison singled to right center and Farmer and Below both scored on the play. Will Bynum reached on a fielder's choice and Orrison moved to second and an errant throw from the third baseman that landed into the outfield let him move to third and also allowed Ragan to score.
The explosion of offensive was more than enough to give Gunner Kines (3-1) the win as he went five innings giving up only one run off five hits and striking out three.
Offensively for the Trojans Reitano finished the day going 5-for-5 with six RBI and a walk. Gouthro also went perfect from the plate going 2-for-2 with an RBI. Orrison finshed behind Reitano with five RBI as he was second in the team RBI category.
Mount Olive returns to action Tuesday as they travel to the site of the Regional NCAA tournament in Cary, N.C. to face St. Augustine's in a single game match-up. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.