The nationally 19th-ranked University of Mount Olive completes the series sweep of Belmont Abbey College with a doubleheader win on senior day 6-5, 6-5 to take the series 3-0 for Conference Carolinas Baseball in Mount Olive, N.C. The Trojans held off a late inning rally in the seventh in game one and in game two the eighth inning saw a comeback by Mount Olive as they brought in the go-ahead run to take the lead and the game.
Game One- Mount Olive: 6 Belmont Abbey: 5
Mount Olive (32-11 Overall, 15-2 Conference Carolinas) senior center fielder Jay Gonzalez led off the inning with a single back up the middle and got all the way to third on a throwing error by the pitcher on a ball that rolled to the bullpen in foul territory. One out later senior left fielder Bradon Reitano singled into center for the opening salvo as Gonzalez came home.
However, the Trojans were not done as Reitano stole second on the next play and then Rob Shipman drew a walk. One batter later Luke Barry came through with a base hit to right field that scored Reitano and UMO took a 2-0 early lead.
Two more runs came across in the third for Mount Olive as Chase Edwards was hit with his first of three hit by pitches to lead off the inning. An out later Shipman drove in Edwards with a double into left center. Shipman was moved to third on a fly out to right and then Barry hit another RBI-base to center to bring home Shipman an Mount Olive was up four.
Belmont Abbey (17-24, 7-13) got the bats going in the sixth as they threated to take to lead. Anthony Dimino singled to left to start the inning. Weston Clarke followed with a single past a diving Shipman. Both runners advanced into scoring position with a wild pitch and the Levi Wright was walked to load the bases. Quinn Hawksworth drove in the first runs of the game for the Crusaders with a double down the left field line to plate Clarke and Dimino.
One batter later Kennan Stanley flied out to left but the sac fly allowed Levi Wright to tag and come home. A pop out ended the sixth as BAC drew within two.
The Trojans responded in the bottom half with an RBI-single off the bat of Cody Britt as he pushed Justin Manning across. Zak Orrison hit a shot out to center that was caught but Allen tagged from third and came home to give Mount Olive two more insurance runs heading into the seventh.
The Crusaders did not go away easily as Ian Vazquez singled throught the right side to start off the inning. Conor Kwalwasser was walked and a ground out moved the runners into scoring position. Clarke grounded out but the hit was enough for Vazquez to come in. Levi Wright came up and plated the second and final run with Kwalwasser.
Senior left hander Derek Justice (7-1) picked up a special win on senior day as he went six innings allowing five runs off five hits and striking out six. Brody McDonald (2) shut down the seventh to earn the save. For McDonald in his inning of work no runs off three hits was all it took to get Mount Olive a game one win as the pitching staff was able to escape a jam.
Parks Smithey (3-7) picked up the loss. He went six and gave up six runs off seven hits and struck out seven.
Game Two- Mount Olive: 6 Belmont Abbey: 5
Shipman homered in game two, a two-run shot over the right field wall to help Mount Olive take game two 6-5. Allen scored the go ahead run in the bottom of the eighth to push the home nine ahead and the Trojans were able to hold off another late inning comeback to take game three and the weekend series from Belmont Abbey.
The Crusaders seemed to run away with the game in just the second inning after a four run inning put them ahead early. Clarke walked and Levi Wright got on by way of the fielder's choice and Clarke was able to take third with a fielding error at second. After a walk to Hawksworth Lorenzo Wright cleared the bases with a triple down the right field line as Edwards dove to try and make the grab but was just a tic late and the ball rolled to the wall. Jon Pilla brought in the fourth run one out later with a single up the middle.
A pole bender home run down the left field line by Vazquez in the fourth added another run to the board for BAC.
Mount Olive (32-11, 16-2) was held scoreless until Shipman hit a two run home run to right field and the Trojans were finally on the board.
In the fifth another run came in for UMO off a wild pitch that allowed Orrison to score from third.
In the seventh Mount Olive made a run. Britt singled with one away and Orrison fell in right behind him with a single as well. Orrison tried to take second and was successful however the throw was high and Orrison took off for third the play allowed Britt to score the tying run.
Mount Olive wanted to win both games on senior day and a push in the eighth made that possible. Reitano walked to lead off. Shipman got hit with a pitch and Manning bunted both runners up off a sacrifice. Barry drew the intentional pass and Allen came through with the biggest swing of the night as he lifted a pitch to left field and Reitano tagged from third, the throw was off the mark and UMO took the lead.
The Crusaders (17-26, 7-14) were shut down in the ninth and Mount Olive took the nightcap 6-5 and swept the series.
Jordy Farthing (6-0) was credited with the win in relief as he threw two and one thirds giving up just two hits.
Logan Redmond (2-6) picked up the loss as he gave up the winning run. Redmond went just one inning allowing one run of no hits and struck out one.
Mount Olive has the day off and then returns to Scarborough field for the last home game of the regular season as the host Virginia State in a single non-conference game. First pitch scheduled for 3:30 p.m.