The University of Mount Olive split a doubleheader series opener against Florida Southern College Saturday afternoon with a 5-0 win in game one at Scarborough Field in Mount Olive , N.C. Gunner Kines threw a complete game, nine inning, shutout to secure the opening win for the Trojans.
Game One (5-0):
Mount Olive (12-4) did not need to give much offensive to starting pitcher Kines as he threw a master piece. Kines did not give up his first hit until the third inning. He then retired the next five Moccasin (9-6) batters before giving up a hit in the fifth. He then scattered two more hits over the next four innings.
Bradon Reitano connected for his seventh home run of the season in the bottom of the first with two outs to put Mount Olive out early.
The Trojans exploded in the fifth inning as they added four more runs to the tally. Jay Gonzales singled to left field for a one out single to get Mount Olive started. DeAndre Allen continued with a single to left field. Reitano sacrificed Gonzales over to third with a fly out to right field.
Rob Shipman came through with a looping single down the right field line and scored Gonzales. Willi Martin unloaded a huge home run to clear the bases as he lifted a moon shot over the trees to left field and the Trojans went up 5-0.
Kines (4-1) finished with ten strikeouts to finish his complete game.
Game Two (6-4):
Mount Olive tied the game in the bottom of the seventh with a two-run home run by Zak Orrison to push game two into extra innings however the Trojans (12-5) could not over a two run deficit in the ninth as they dropped a 6-4 loss to Florida Southern (10-6).
The Trojans scored early as Gonzales drew a leadoff walk. Reitano one out later drew the second walk of the inning. After a strikeout Martin came through with a RBI-double to center field and scored the speedy Gonzales and Reitano.
The Moccasins got on the board in the fourth with Trey Vavra's two-run home run to left center as the game was back to even.
In the top of the fifth Florida Southern broke the tie and added two more to the box score. Colton Davis was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and was sacrificed over with a bunt by Christian Magno. Kevin Fuller singled up the middle and advanced Davis to third and put runners on the corners. A walk by Casey Eddinger loaded the bases. Conor Sczcerba singled to left field and brought home Fuller and Davis.
The score remained deadlocked until the bottom of the seventh. Cody Britt drew a one out walk on a 3-2 count to set up Orrison to tie to game as he belted a home run to left field and the Trojans needed just one run to win, however they stranded a runner at second base and game two went to extra frames.
Vavra got the Moccasins going in the top of the ninth with a one out single up the middle. Chris Dennis singled to right field and advanced Vavra to third. A wild pitch allowed Vavra to come home and Dennis to move to second. Kyle Richards reached on a throwing error and Dennis came all the way from second to score on the play as two errors allowed him to come home.
Mount Olive could not mount a rally in the bottom of the ninth and took the second game loss in nine innings after it was scheduled for seven.
The Trojans return to the diamond tomorrow to play in the rubber match between these two teams. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.