The nationally 15th-ranked University of Mount Olive completed the three game series sweep of Limestone College Monday afternoon with a 14-4 win in Conference Carolinas Baseball in Gaffney, S.C. Two home runs in the fifth by Jay Gonzales and Rob Shipman put the Trojans ahead for good.
The Trojans (15-7 Overall, 3-0 Conference Carolinas) struck first as DeAndre Allen reached first with a one out single to right field. Bradon Reitano continued the hitting trend and got on with a single of his own past the shortstop. Shipman drove in the first run for Mount Olive with an RBI-single past the second basemen and brought home Allen.
The Saints (6-15, 0-3) responded in the bottom half as Kyle Booth took a home run over the right field fence to even the game up. However, Limestone was not finished in the inning as Julian Bridges got on with a double and advanced to third on a groundout. Bridges scored on a throwing error by the shortstop as Brady Stafford reached first safely and the Saints took the lead.
Mount Olive tied the game back in the third with a RBI-single from Reitano that brought in Gonzales.
Limestone took back the lead with a RBI-groundout by Tyler Wood and the Saints were out in front 3-2.
Two home runs in the fifth put Mount Olive ahead for good. Gonzales with one out lifted a 3-2 pitch to left field for his first home run of the season. After Allen singled to center and a pop out later, Shipman homered to left center for the second home run of the inning and Shipman's third big fly of the year and second in the series.
The Saints added a run in the bottom of the fifth coming off back-to-back one out singles and a Chad Balderman grounded out to bring home Chris Scura.
In the sixth Zak Orrison reached on a fielder's choice with one out. Gonzales was walked and both runners stole on the next play to put runners on second and third. Allen came through with the Trojans third home run of the game as he cleared the bases. Mount Olive threatened to add more runs in the inning after Reitano singled past the shortstop and then stole second. After a two out walk to Justin Manning the final blow of the inning came off the bat of Chase Edwards as he singled through the right side of the infield and brought home the fourth run in Reitano.
Mount Olive added three more runs to the board in the seventh, all with two outs, off the bats of Reitano with a two RBI-single up the middle and Shipman with a RBI-single to left center.
The Trojan offensive contributed the final two runs of the game in the ninth. Allen reached on a fielder's choice to give UMO one out in the inning. Reitano got on with a walk and was moved to second with a groundout from Shipman that also moved Allen to third. Luke Barry came in to pinch hit for Manning and singled into left field and scored the last runs of the game.
The fourteen runs worth of offensive was more than enough to give Trojan starting pitcher Derek Justice (3-1) the win, his third of the year. He went seven innings and allowed four runs (three earned) off six hits and struck out three. Talton Cherry and Brody McDonald came in relief and both pitched one hit inning baseball as they shut down the Saints in the final two innings.
Mount Olive returns to Scarborough Field tomorrow as they take on non-conference opponent Catawba College in a single game contest. First pitch from Mount Olive is set for 5 p.m.