Zak Orrison and Joe Koehler went deep in a five run fifth inning, however it was not enough as nationally fourth-ranked University of Mount Olive fell 18-8 in the series finale against Lenoir-Rhyne University Wednesday afternoon for non-conference baseball in Hickory, N.C. A 10-run inning put up by the Bears in the seventh was the blow that did not allow Mount Olive a late inning comeback.
Mount Olive (14-3) was retired in order to start off the game. Lenoir-Rhyne (12-6) came out swinging in bottom half. The Bears knocked in two early runs on a W Thompson two RBI-single into left/
The Trojans responded in a big way in their next at bats. Rob Shipman led off the inning with a walk and moved to third on a double from Justin Manning. Koehler came up next and cleared the bases with a three run shot to dead center and Mount Olive took the lead for the first time. Tyler Farmer continued the fire for the Trojans with a single into right and stole second on a strikeout. Farmer was then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from DeAndre Allen. Orrison hit a rocket shot over the centerfielder's head and used his speed to come all the way around to score on a inside the park homerun.
Adam Venditti helped bring the Bears to within 5-3 with a solo lead-off home run to start the bottom of the second. After a walk and a single by Lenoir-Rhyne Brantley Rumford drove in the fourth run with a double down the left field line.
Lenoir-Rhyne tied the game in the fourth with a sacrifice fly by R Perkins.
Mount Olive came back to regain the lead in the top of the fifth. Orrison ended up at third to lead off the inning after a single, a steal of second, and an advance on a wild pitch. Kilegore Gailmard put runners on the corners once he was walked. Jason Morozowski brought Orrison in with an RBI-double to left. The bases became loaded after a fielding error put Shipman on first. A force out prevented the Trojans from scoring on the next play; however Koehler changed that with one away. Koehler earned a walk and an RBI to move Mount Olive ahead, 7-5.
Farmer added one more in the inning as his found open ground in left to bring home Shipman.
The Bears brought the deficit to one with two runs in the sixth off a sacrifice fly and a double.
Lenoir-Rhyne's offense exploded in the seventh Ivan Vietiez started off the inning with a solo home run. The Bears went on to push across five more runs off two singles and a double. The biggest at bat came from David Newcomer when he came up with the bases and two away and cleared the bases with a grand slam to left field and a 10 run inning came to a close as Lenoir-Rhyne went up 17-8.
One more run came across in the bottom of the eighth and the Trojans were unable to make a comeback in the ninth.
Jose Serrano (1-1) was credited with the loss in relief. He allowed five runs off four hits and struck out two in his two thirds of an inning pitched.
Thomas St.Clair (4-1) picked up the win in relief after throwing two complete innings of scoreless baseball with six strikeouts.
Mount Olive returns home to Scarborough Field this weekend as the Trojans host Conference Carolinas foe Limestone College in a three game series. Saturday's double header is scheduled to start at 12 p.m. after the contest was pushed back a day due to impending weather.