Jason Morozowski hit two home runs as the 13th-ranked University of Mount Olive cruised to a 18-5 win against Virginia State University Tuesday afternoon at Scarborough Field for non-conference baseball in Mount Olive, N.C. The Trojans had a big offensive outburst in the second as eight runs came across.
A three up and three down top of the first allowed Mount Olive (6-1) the early momentum headed into the bottom half. Morozowski led off with a single past third. Justin Manning followed with a one out double and Rob Shipman singled Morozowski home for the first run of the ball game.
Virginia State (4-1) struck for one run in the second on a sacrifice fly by Jay Dee Johnson to tie the game up.
The Trojans offense teed off against the Virginia State pitcher in the bottom of the second. Bretton Gouthro doubled down the left field line to lead off the inning. Joe Koehler followed with another double and advanced to third on a throwing error by the centerfielder and Gouthro scored. Koehler one pitch later scored on a wild pitch. With the bases cleared Brett Lang doubled to the right centerfield wall and then moved to third on a wild pitch. Morozowski with one away got every piece of the Virginia State pitcher's fastball as hit drilled one over the right centerfield wall for a two run home run.
Kilgore Gailmard continued the rally as he single into center and moved to third on a wild pitch. Justin Manning drew a one out walk. Shipman singled in a run with a poke into right and Manning moved up to third as Gailmard scored. Chris Leduc then cleared the bases with a three run home run over the right center field wall. Mount Olive plated eight runs off eight hits in the inning to take a 9-1 lead.
Mount Olive added a solo run in the third, off a Manning groundout to move ahead by nine.
The Trojans added four more in the bottom of the fourth off singles from Lang and Morozowski. Manning also grabbed another RBI off a groundout.
Virginia State countered in the top of the fifth. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases and a wild pitch scored one for the visiting Trojans. Nick Christopher cleared the bases on a three run home run to left center and Virginia State was down 14-5.
Mount Olive needed one run and a hold in top of the seventh to win via the mercy rule which was agreed upon before the game and the Trojans got more than enough. Morozowski belted his second big fly of the game as the ball curved around the foul pole in right. For the first time this season the Trojans hit back-to-back home runs as Gailmard put one into the trees in right center and Mount Olive led 16-5. Two walks set up Zak Orrison to single in the two remaining runs of the game as Grant Tyndall and Brandon Day scored to make the lead 13.
Virginia State was able to get a runner to third but could not bring them home as the visiting Trojans fell in seven innings.
Carlos Rodriquez (2-0) in his first career start for the Trojans picked up the win. Rodriquez went four and two thirds allowing five runs off four hits and struck out three. Taylor Carr and Tyler Chappel both came in, in relief and pitched scoreless baseball as both picked up a strikeout.
Nathan Anger (0-1) picked up the loss for Virginia State. Anger allowed 10 runs off 12 hits and added a strikeout.
Mount Olive will play its first game on the road this season as the Trojans head down to Florida Southern for a three game series. First pitch Saturday for the double header is set for 1 p.m. in Lakeland, Fla.