University of Mount Olive belted four home runs and Bruce Zimmerman recorded 14 strikeouts in eight shutout innings as the Trojans defeated Emmanuel College 16-0 in the opening game of a three-game Conference Carolinas baseball series Friday at Franklin Springs, Ga. Derek Deler hit a grand slam, while Joe Koehler, Brett Lang and Zak Orrison also homered.
Mount Olive (7-5 overall, 3-1 Conference Carolinas) led 3-0 after five innings and broke the game open with a five-run sixth inning as Orrison hit a three-run homer and Koehler added a two-run shot. The Trojans extended the lead to 10-0 on Lang's two-run homer in the top of the eighth.
In the top of the ninth, Julian Santos scored on a force out and David Mayo singled in a run for his fourth hit of the game. After Koehler walked to load the bases, Deler capped the scoring with his first home run of the season.
Zimmerman (3-1) walked two and allowed only three hits, all singles. Emmanuel (1-18, 0-7) nearly broke up the shutout in the bottom of the fifth when Derrick Cars singled with one out and stole second. Cars tried to score when Brandon Bost beat out an infield single to third, but first baseman Koehler threw him out at the plate.
Tyler Chappel retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to preserve the shutout.
The two teams conclude the doubleheader Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.