Justin Manning lifted a home run in game two of the doubleheader as the 16th-ranked University of Mount Olive split with Pfeiffer University with a 5-2 win in game two in Conference Carolinas baseball at Scarborough Field in Mount Olive, N.C. Bradon Reitano went 2-for-4 with an RBI to help the Trojans in the victory. Five straight two out hits by the Trojans plated four in the second inning in game two.
Game One Pfeiffer 10 Mount Olive 8:
Mount Olive (16-8 Overall, 4-1 Conference Carolinas) was not able to complete the seventh inning comeback as the Trojans dropped game one to the Falcons (15-10, 6-2) 10-8. Rob Shipman led the team as he went 2-for-4 with a home run in the seventh.
For Pfeiffer in the first Jon Gray started the game off with a bang as he took a 2-1 pitch over the left field wall and put the Falcons up 1-0.
Reitano answered for the Trojans in the bottom half as he grounded out but brought home Jay Gonzales.
Mount Olive in the second wanted to put the game out reach. Cody Britt came through with a two out single past the third baseman. Zak Orrison singled through the right side and continued the hitting threat. Gonzales singled into left field and scored Britt to break the tie ballgame. DeAndre Allen connected for the fourth straight hit as he doubled down the left field line and Orrison came in from second. Reitano doubled into left center to bring in the final two runners of the inning. Five straight two out hits by the Trojans plated four and UMO led 5-1.
Pfeiffer added three runs in the third off a RBI-double by Jon Gray and a two-run RBI-single by Tyler Summers. They went on to tie the game in the fourth off a sacrifice fly RBI by Kevin Price.
The Falcons added two more runs in the sixth highlighted by a home run Kyle Hackney. In the seventh two RBI-singles by Dylan Goodman and Dalton Lindley and a RBI-groundout by Matt Wade added to the Pfeiffer lead as they took a 10-6 lead into the last set of at bats for the Trojans
Shipman began the inning just how the Trojans could have wanted as he took a pitch out over the left field wall and Mount Olive trailed by three. After Justin Manning was hit by a pitch, Bretton Gouthro walked, and Tyler Farmer was hit by a pitch, the bases were loaded for Luke Barry. Barry took a pitch to opposite side and a ball that looked as though it was going to fall was caught by the left fielder on the dive and Manning tagged from third to score. Mount Olive looked to continue the comeback but a groundout to third ended the threat and the Trojans fell in game one 10-8 to even the series at 1-1.
Hunter Jobe (4-1) came in relief and was credited with the save as he went two near perfect innings only giving up three walks.
Talton Cherry took the loss on the mound as he went one and two thirds allowing two runs off two hits.
Game Two Mount Olive 5 Pfeiffer 2:
Justin Manning lifted a home run in game two of the doubleheader to solidify the Trojan (17-8, 5-1) win in the eighth inning. Reitano also went 2-for-4 with an RBI to help the Trojans in the victory.
Mount Olive was able to shut down the Falcons (15-11, 6-3) in the first on their way to score first in the bottom half. Gonzales led off with a single over the shortstop's head and was pushed over to second on the sacrifice bunt by Allen. Reitano singled in left center and Mount Olive was on the board.
A solo run was added in the second by the Trojans as Gonzales brought in Manning on a fielding error by the shortstop.
Another single run was added to the board when Shipman scored Allen on a sacrifice fly. Allen got to third off a throwing error by the first baseman and moved into scoring position as the throw went into foul territory in right. A single by Reitano through the 5-6 hole moved Allen to third where he was brought in by Shipman.
Pfeiffer scored their only runs in the fifth. A fielding error and a groundout brought in two on two separate plays as the Falcons inched closer down 4-2.
In the eighth Manning added a needed insurance run as he blasted a shot over the right field fence just left of the foul pole and gave the Trojans a 5-2 lead.
Pfeiffer looked to make a comeback in the ninth after a groundout and a fly out, Gray doubled to right center to give the Falcons some hope. However, the Trojans got the game ending fly out to end the game and Pfieffer fell 5-2.
The offensive by the Trojans was enough to get Tyler Joyner (1-1) his first win of the season. Joyner went four and a third giving up two runs off two hits and held the Falcons scoreless until the fifth. Brody McDonald (1) came in for the save, the first of the season for McDonald. He went two innings giving up just a single hit and struck out one.
Tyler Lequire (2-1) picked up the loss as he went six innings allowing four runs -two earned- off seven hits and struck out three.
Mount Olive takes the series 2-1 and has the day off tomorrow and then they will play host to Southern New Hampshire Monday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.