The nationally 27th-ranked University of Mount Olive used the long ball in a doubleheader sweep 17-5 & 8-0 of the Chowan University Hawks in non-conference baseball in Mount Olive, N.C. Wednesday night. Zak Orrison hit a three-run home run in game one to put the Trojans ahead for good in the second inning.
Game One Mount Olive 17 Chowan 5:
Home runs by Orrison and Chase Edwards in game one led the Trojans (20-11) to a 17-5 win in the opener against the Hawks (9-19). A five run inning in the second highlighted by Orrison's bomb and a nine run inning in the fifth launched the Trojans to victory.
Mount Olive got things going in the second as Willi Martin doubled to left center to lead off the inning. After a fly out Martin took third on a wild pitch. Edwards brought home the first run with a triple to dead center field as Martin scored. Luke Barry followed him with a RBI-single past the second baseman and Edwards came in.
Barry stole second and Cody Britt worked out a walk as Orrison came up and cleared the bases with a moon shot to left field and the first big inning was over in the second.
Chowan tried to get closer in the third. After Josh Martin reached on a fielding error by the shortstop Evan Seymour moved him to second on a single to center field. Will Garganus drove in the first Hawk run with a two RBI-double into left center that brought in Seymour and Martin.
Tyler Burden followed suit with a single over the second baseman and Garganous moved over to third. A double steal was thwarted as both runners were put out in a pickle. Tanner woods came through with a two out single into left. John Hunter singled as well and the Hawks had runners at first and second. Evan Holton brought in two more with his RBI-single through the left side and Chowan trailed 5-3.
Mount Olive added three in the fourth coming off a home run from Edwards, RBI-double by Britt and a groundout RBI from Jay Gonzales.
The Hawks put two more on the board in the top of the 5th.
The Trojans biggest inning came in the bottom half of the fifth. Justin Manning doubled to lead off the inning. Edwards drove him in with his second triple of the game. Barry singled through the right side for the second RBI of the inning. Britt brought home Edwards with an RBI-double to center field. The fourth straight base hit came off the bat of Orrison who doubled into center which scored Britt. Gonzales was the final Trojan batter to hit consecutively in the inning as he singled up the middle and allowed the fifth run to come home in Orrison.
Chandler Smetana came in the game as a pinch hitter for Allen and drew the walk to put another runner in scoring position as Gonzales advanced to second. Manning came up to bat again as the Trojans batted around and picked up the two out walk. Edwards was hit on an inside fastball and he pushed everyone around to bring in Gonzales. Barry reached on a fielding error by the Hawks left fielder who, misplayed the fly ball and Edwards, Manning, and Smetana all came in to score.
The 17 run outburst was more than enough to give Hunter Barnett (1-0) his first win on the season as it was also his first start. Barnett threw four innings allowing four runs off nine hits and struck out five.
Brian Vincent (0-1) took the loss on the hill for Chowan as he gave up eight runs off eight hits and added two strikeouts.
Game two Mount Olive 8 Chowan 0:
Willi Martin went 3-for-4 with in a team leading four RBI in the nightcap as the Trojans swept the doubleheader with a 8-0 win in game two Wednesday night.
Mount Olive (21-11) got the bats swinging in the first as Gonzales led off the bottom half of the frame with a single into left center. Gonzales did advance to third after he stole second and took third on the throw that landed in center. Britt came up and knocked him in with a RBI-single past the third baseman. Bradon Reitano doubled into left center as Britt came home. Martin connected for the third straight RBI base hit as his shot landed in center field and Reitano came in.
Gonzales singled into left field with one out to start off the Trojan half of the second. Britt trailed the lead-off hitter with another single through the 5-6 hole. After a double steal was successful by the Trojans Martin came up and unloaded a two out home run to left field clearing the bases and put UMO on top 6-0.
Single runs were added in the third and fourth both off RBI-singles and Mount Olive was ahead of Chowan (9-20) 8-0.
The offensive put up by the Trojan batters was solid enough for Jordy Farthing (3-0) to pick up his third win on the year. He threw four innings of shutout baseball only allowing three hits and punching out six.
Ian Benner (0-2) was credited with the loss on the hill for the Hawks as he gave up six runs off 10 hits in his two innings of work.
Mount Olive will travel on Friday to get back into Conference Carolinas play as they go to Bristol, Tenn. to take on King University in a three game series. A single game on Friday will be at 2:30 p.m. and the series ending doubleheader will begin at 12 p.m. on Saturday. The Trojans return to Scarborough in April, as they host non-conference opponent Virginia State April 9th in Mount Olive. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.