Rob Shipman got a crucial insurance run home in a four run eighth inning to help secure a 9-4 series opening win for the No 13. University of Mount Olive against North Greenville University Friday afternoon at Scarborough Field in Conference Carolinas baseball.
Mount Olive (31-9 Overall, 17-4 Conference Carolinas) got on the board first as Zak Orrison reached on an error by the third baseman. Kilgore Gailmard singled through the left side and moved Orrison to third. Jason Morozowski reached on a fielder's choice and everyone was safe as the throw to second was not in time to get Gailmard. Justin brought the first run home as he grounded into a double play and Orrison was the game's first run.
The Trojans added to runs in the second off a bases loaded walk to Gailmard and a sacrifice fly from Morozowski. Grant Tyndall pushed home a run in the third on a sacrifice bunt and Mount Olive led 4-0.
After a RBI-double by Joe Koehler in the sixth; North Greenville (22-21, 12-10) came alive in the seventh. Taylor McCuen belted a first pitch around the left field foul pole for a lead-off home run. Shaq Rolle doubled with one out and was brought in on another home run this time by Wheeler Smith and the Crusaders trailed 5-3.
North Greenville was not done as the comeback continued in the eighth. Back-to-back walks started the inning. Two straight ground outs moved Jae Roberts and Allen Staton into scoring position and subsequently moved Roberts home.
Going into the bottom half up just one run Mount Olive needed some breathing room and the offense responded. Morozowski singled to lead off the inning. Manning moved him to second on a sacrifice bunt. Shipman gave the Trojans a two run cushion as he singled into right field and Morozowski scored. Hunter Barnett came in to pinch run for Shipman.
Brett Lang collected his third base hit of the game with an RBI-double over the right fielder's head and into the corner in right. Bretton Gouthro grounded out to first but picked up another run for the Trojans. DeAndre Allen singled home the final run of the game as he hit a rope shot back up the middle and Lang scored to give Mount Olive a 8-4 lead.
Serrano worked a perfect second inning of work to close out the game in the ninth.
Gunnar Kines (7-1) picked up the win on the mound. He surrendered three runs off six hits and struck out eight. Serrano pitched the final two innings and he gave up one run of no hits and struck out two.
Ryan Dittmar (2-3) got the loss as he went four innings and gave up four runs off eight hits and struck out a pair.
Mount Olive closes out the three game series with a double header Saturday at noon at Scarborough Field. Saturday's game is also senior day for nine Trojans. Tyler Farmer, DeAndre Allen, Bretton Gouthro, Derek Justice, Gunnar Kines, Rob Shipman, Mark Harris, Taylor Carr, and Jordy Farthing will be honored before game one of the double header.