The University of Mount Olive defeated Chowan University 13-4 Wednesday afternoon in non-conference baseball. Trojans used a nine-run bottom of the eighth to crack the game open and secure the win.
Mount Olive (31-19) was up 4-3 over Chowan (26-24) heading into the bottom of the eighth. Back-to-back walks lead-off walks were followed by a bunt single by Ricky Surum. Brandon Day came in and knocked in Bradley Ragan and Joe Koehler to move Mount Olive ahead 6-3.
Zak Orrison followed suit with an RBI single into left. Jack Sherrill loaded the bases as he reached on a perfectly placed bunt single. Brett Lang reached on a fielding error by the Hawks second baseman and two runs came in to score. Stephen Wallace continued the hits for the Trojans with an RBI single to right center.
David Mayo drove in another run on an RBI-groundout for the first out of the inning. Koehler came back up as the Trojans batted around and picked up an RBI double after being walked earlier in the inning. The final run of the inning came across on an Alvin Swoop RBI-single to left center and Mount Olive had opened up a 13-3 lead.
To begin the game, Mount Olive scored first on a Mayo RBI-single through the left side of the infield. The Trojans added another solo run in the fourth as Koehler scored on a wild pitch.
Chowan tied the game in the seventh on a fielder's choice RBI hit by Aaron Akers and a wild pitch that scored Marvin Harrell.
Orrison tripled home Day who led off the bottom of the seventh with a double to regain the lead for Mount Olive. Sherrill added an insurance run as he scored Orrison on a sacrifice fly to right center.
The Hawks drew to within one after a lead-off solo home run by Aaron Flanagan and the Trojans led 4-3.
The eighth inning proved to be the decisive blow, despite allowing the Hawks to score one run in the top of the ninth.
Brighton Hudson (7-3) picked up the win in relief as he went one and two-thirds innings pitched and allowed three runs off four hits and struck out one.
Mount Olive awaits its seeding in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional. The NCAA selection show will be shown on ncaa.com this Sunday at 10 p.m.