Bradon Reitano hit a three run home run to highlight a four run sixth inning to push the nationally 27th-ranked University of Mount Olive over Francis Marion University 11-6 in non-conference baseball Tuesday night at Florence, S.C. Junior center fielder, Jay Gonzalez also added a 3-for-4 night with an RBI and three runs scored for the Trojans.
Mount Olive (25-11Overall) was able to get on the board first in the opening inning as the bats started off hot for the Trojans. Gonzalez earned a five pitch walk and Cody Britt moved him to second with a single to the shortstop. Reitano singled through the left side to load the bases. After a strikeout all three runners moved up on a wild pitch that allowed Gonzalez to plate the first run of the game.
Willi Martin brought in the second run of the game with a sacrifice fly out to center and Britt tagged from third and scored.
The Trojans added a single run in the third off a Justin Manning sacrifice fly that allowed Rob Shipman to come home. The play was set up after Shipman singled up the middle and Martin was hit by a pitch and Chase Edwards walked the bases full for Manning.
The sixth inning brought some fireworks from the UMO bats as four runs came across. DeAndre Allen got on with a riffle shot back up the middle to get a runner on. Zak Orrison singled behind Allen to move him over to second. Gonzalez brought in the first run of the sixth as his shot down the left field line fell in for a double and Allen came in and Orrison moved to third.
A groundout stopped any progression for the Trojans but they were not done as Reitano came up with two away. The 0-1 pitch was taken down the left field line and stayed fair for Reitano's ninth home run of the 2014 campaign. The shot was recorded at 340 feet as he drove in three and pushed Mount Olive ahead 7-0.
The seventh saw much of the same as Mount Olive continued their offensive attack. Allen was the first base runner for the Trojans after he was hit by a pitch with two outs. Orrison was also hit by a pitch and then both runners advanced on a balk by the Patriot pitcher. Gonzalez also got on base, however this time he earned a walk. So the bases were loaded again and Britt came up for UMO. Britt reached safely on a fielder's choice as the feed from the second baseman at second was sailed out of reach and allowed Orrison and Allen to come home.
The Trojans now led 9-0 going into the bottom of the seventh and Francis Marion (17-16) still was held off the board.
Marquis Curry pinched hit for Nicholas McGee to lead off the seventh for the Patriots and came through with a single up the middle. Devin Walker pinch ran for Curry and advanced to second on a passed ball. David DeWolfe walked after a seven pitch at bat. Casey Gebhardt single into left center to load the bases for FMU.
Cole Morris grounded out but was able to bring home the first run of the game for the Patriots in the seventh as Walker came in.
The Trojans responded by adding a run back after Martin singled with one away; Dylan Harvey came in to run for him and Edwards drove in Harvey with a triple off the center field wall over a diving Isaac Davenport.
Francis Marion added three in the bottom of eighth off a double by Michael Keels and RBI-groundouts by Walker and Connor Wessel.
Reitano drove in another run for Mount Olive with a RBI-single to left and Gonzalez was the eleventh Trojan runner to cross in the game.
The Patriots looked to make a comeback in the last at bats of the night. Morris was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and after a fly out and a strikeout he took second base on the steal. Wilson took a 1-2 pitch and got enough of it for it to clear the wall out in right field and two runs were added in the comeback. However, a strikeout ended the ninth inning rally and Mount Olive took the non-conference game.
Jordy Farthing (4-0) the junior right hander remained perfect on the year as he picked up win number four. Farthing went a solid six innings only giving up one run off seven hits and striking out five. Farthing kept the Patriots scoreless until the seventh when they scored one against him.
Randy Morgart (0-2) picked up the loss for Francis Marion as he did not make it out of the first, but gave up two runs off two hits.
The win for Mount Olive extends their streak to eight games as they head back into Conference Carolinas play with a three game series against arch rival Barton College set to begin Friday. The series begins with a single game Friday at 2:30 p.m. and a series-ending doubleheader Saturday slated for 12 p.m. in Wilson, N.C.