The nationally 27th-ranked University of Mount Olive Trojans sweep the series from Barton College with 9-1 win in game one and a 22-2 slugger fest in game two that saw a 13 run ninth inning. Jay Gonzalez went 4-for-5 with two RBI and a home run in game one to lead the offensive. In game two Rob Shipman steered the Trojans in a four run fifth inning with a two-run home run that put Mount Olive ahead for good.
Game One-Mount Olive: 9 Barton: 1
Gonzalez led the Trojans to a 9-1 game one win as he went 4-for-5 with two RBI and a home run in the fourth that solidified the victory. Derek Justice pitched another complete game performance on the hill for the Trojans to complement his team's offensive.
The Trojans (27-11 Overall, 12-2 Conference Carolinas) got on the board first in game one as Justin Manning doubled down the right field line with one away. DeAndre Allen followed him one out later with another double that banged off the wall in left center to bring Manning in.
Zak Orrison drew a walk and Allen moved to third on the ball four wild pitch. The next run came home on a failed pickoff attempt of Orrison at first as Allen got in a pickle between third and home but an errant throw from the Barton third baseman to the plate allowed him to be safe and Mount Olive had an early 3-0 lead.
In the third Mount Olive went to the bats again. Shipman walked to start off the inning. Willi Martin came up and doubled down the right field line that advanced Shipman to third. Manning singled with a bloop shot over the jumping shortstop to load the bases. Cody Britt brought home the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to right field to bring in Shipman.
Allen drew a walk to reload the bases and on the next play Martin scored on a wild pitch. Orrison came up with one away and drove in Manning with a sacrifice fly to center and Allen was tagged out at third to end the inning.
JT Bunce got the Bulldogs (11-23, 6-8) on the board in the third with a solo home run to center field.
The Trojans responded in fourth as Gonzalez hit a home run of his own to right center to take the run back from Barton.
Another run came home in the top of the sixth for UMO as Gonzalez hit a bullet off the pitcher for a lead-off single. Gonzalez then stole second after a fly out to center. Bradon Reitano singled into center and Gonzalez took third. Shipman brought in the eighth Trojan run with a sacrifice fly out to right and Gonzales came home.
Manning started off the seventh for the Trojans by getting hit by a pitch and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. A groundout moved Manning to third. Then Allen drew a four pitch walk. Orrison sneaked one down the left field line and drove in Manning for the final run in game one for the Trojans.
Justice (6-1) shut down the Bulldogs in game one to pick up his second straight complete game and the fourth of the season. In his sixth win Justice only gave up one run off seven hits and struck out four.
Kyle Rufer got the loss for Barton after going three innings and surrendering seven hits that led to six runs, four earned, and he also added two strikeouts.
Game Two- Mount Olive: Barton:
In game two Shipman steered the Trojans (28-11, 13-2) in a four run fifth inning with a two-run home run the put Mount Olive ahead for good as they took game two 0-0 and swept the series from Barton.
The Trojans again shot the opening salvo in game two as they struck first in the second. Martin led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch. Manning moved him into scoring position with a single through the right side. Allen came up and delivered the RBI-double to left that brought home Martin. After a groundout Orrison scored Manning on an RBI-groundout to bring home the second run for UMO.
In the fifth Mount Olive opened the game up. Britt walked to lead off and then moved to third on the hit and run single through the 5-6 hole by Orrison. Orrison stole second and after a strikeout, Edwards hit a ball long enough to bring in Britt on the sacrifice fly.
Reitano rifled a shot to the third baseman that ate him up and he was able to reach first on the single and Orrison came in to score. Shipman had a full count and unloaded on a ball as he pulled it over the right field fence for a big two out two-run home run and the Trojans extended their lead 6-0.
Barton (11-24, 6-9) was able to plate their first and only runs of the game in the sixth. Dylan Rudio singled past the shortstop to lead off. Calvin Hawke followed up with another single through the right side of the infield. Mitchell Wheeler singled to center field but the runners were halted and the bases were loaded. Andrew Webster singled through the right side to bring home the first run and Rudio scored.
Avery Harper reached on a fielder's choice and on the play Hawke came in to bring the Bulldogs to within four.
Reitano answered for the Trojans in the seventh as he took a hitter's count pitch over the left field fence for a one out home run. The shot was Reitano's 11th home run on the year.
In the UMO half of the eighth Manning hit a laser off the pitcher's foot and was able to obtain first safely. Allen walked on the next play off a nine pitch battle. Britt pushed both runners over on a sacrifice bunt. So with one away Orrison hit a ball to third and reached second on the throwing error that gave him first and then he took second after the ball rolled into foul territory in right. Also Manning came in on the previous play as well.
Gonzalez continued the inning as he got on with a walk. The third walk of the inning was issued to Edwards and he picked up the RBI as Allen came home.
The final frame in the ninth saw one of the biggest offensive explosions of the season as 13 runs came home for the Trojans. Allen, Britt, Reitano, and Shipman all had RBI-singles in the ninth. The final at bats for Mount Olive saw 10 hits and three errors as the 13 runs came across.
Gunnar Kines (6-1) picked up his sixth win on the season as he went five and a third surrendering two runs off seven hits and striking out five. Brody McDonald and Zach Bernard came in relief and both pitched shutout ball. McDonald went one and two thirds giving up one hit and also adding one strikeout. Bernard went the final two innings and pitched two perfect innings and adding two strikeouts.
Ricky Jernigan got hooked with the loss for the Bulldogs as he gave up six runs off seven hits and added six strikeouts.
Mount Olive continues the win streak against Barton as the Trojans have now beaten the Bulldogs 19 straight times dating back to a 6-4 Barton victory on Valentine's Day 2009. The Trojans will return to action Tuesday as they will travel to Wingate for a doubleheader scheduled to start at 3 p.m. in Wingate, N.C.