University of Mount Olive fell to Chowan University 8-4 in non-conference baseball from Scarborough Field Tuesday night.
Mount Olive (23-17) fell behind early as Chowan (22-21) struck first in the top of the first. The Trojans surrendered a lead-off walk to get the Hawks started. After a ground out that moved Will Garganus to second and a Trojan throwing error, the first run of the game came home on a sacrifice fly by Zach Cooper.
The Trojans wasted no time responding as Zak Orrison drew a lead-off walk. David Mayo picked up the first hit for Mount Olive and Orrison moved to second. Both Orrison and Mayo advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Brett Lang brought home the first run for Mount Olive on a sacrifice fly to center. Stephen Wallace drove in Mayo from third on a RBI-single down the left field line and Mount Olive took a 2-1 lead.
Mount Olive extended the lead in the bottom of the second. Orrison came up with two away and put a ball in play down the third base line. The ball was misplayed by the third baseman and went into left field and Orrison moved to second on the error. The Hawk left fielder also misplayed the ball as it continued to go to the left field wall. Orrison continued to run and was able to make it all the home without a throw and the Mount Olive lead grew to 3-1.
Chowan was able to bring in a single run off an RBI-single in the third. The Hawks continued to fight back and tied the ballgame up in the seventh.
Garganus was allowed to reach safely to lead off the inning after a Trojan fielding error. Cooper drove in Garganus from second with a RBI-double to left center. Josh Martin pushed across the tying run following a hit batter, and the game was tied at four.
Mount Olive was kept off the boards in the seventh and eighth innings. The Hawks had their big inning in the top of the ninth.
Chowan started off the inning with Aaron Flanagan reaching on a bad throw from the Trojan catcher on a dropped third strike. Cooper picked up a one out single, and moved Flanagan to second. Wade Wyatt then platted Flanagan with an RBI-single up the middle.
Martin was then hit by a pitch and loaded the bases. Emory Chopp drew a second straight hit by pitch and Wyatt scored from third. The Trojans were able to stop the bleeding temporarily as they retired the next two batters. Garganus drove in two more run as another base hit up the middle sealed the win for Chowan as Mount Olive was unable to comeback in the bottom of the ninth.
Mount Olive and Chowan will battle again Wednesday afternoon from Scarborough Field. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.