University of Mount Olive split a series ending doubleheader 8-5, 4-3 with Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C. in Conference Carolinas baseball Saturday afternoon. Mount Olive utilizes a four-run sixth inning to push the Trojans past the Saints in game one.
Game One: Mount Olive 8 Limestone 5
Mount Olive (23-15 Overall, 14-8 Conference Carolinas) started off game one in the driver's seat. David Mayo led off the inning with a one out base hit. Mayo stole second and scored off a Brett Lang double to left center. Stephen Wallace moved Lang to third on a single back up the middle.
Bradley Ragan drove home the second run as Lang scored on a fielder's choice.
Limestone (16-30, 5-18) fought back in the bottom of the third. Back-to-back RBI doubles scored three runs and the Saints took the 3-2 lead.
The Trojans had to wait until the top of the sixth to strike back. Two straight singles by Wallace and Ragan and a hit by pitch to Joe Koehler loaded the bases. Duke Hill singled to left center and Ragan and Wallace scored to give Mount Olive a 4-3 lead. The final run of the inning came three batters later as Zak Orrison put a ball into play and a throwing error allowed Koehler and Sherrill to come home.
Wallace and Koehler gave Mount Olive more of a cushion as they both homered in the top of the seventh.
Limestone tried to rally in the final frame as Garrett Lowery hit a two-run home run to draw within three. The Saints picked up another hit in the inning, but, the final two outs were record and the Trojans took game one.
Bruce Zimmerman (7-2) picked up the win on the mound for Mount Olive. Zimmerman went the distance and allowed five runs off 11 hits and struck out a dozen.
Game Two: Mount Olive 3 Limestone 3
Game two started off the complete opposite from game one for Mount Olive (23-16, 14-9). Limestone (17-30, 6-18) started off with the lead as a two-run home run by B Duckett pushed the Saints ahead first.
Mount Olive was able to sratch across a run in the top of the third with a RBI-triple by Mayo. Ragan tied the game for Mount Olive with an RBI groundout in the sixth.
The Trojans were able to give themselves the lead for the first time in the top of the eighth. Ragan took advantage of a lead-off single by Mayo and a double by Lang, and drove in the go ahead run with a sacrifice fly that allowed Mayo to score.
Limestone was able to bring in the tying and game-winning runs in the bottom of the ninth as both runs scored on a wild pitch.
Mount Olive will host Chowan University April 19 and 20 for a two game series at Scarborough Field. Game time for game one is 6 p.m.