Posted: Mar 08, 2017
Mount Olive, N.C. --- No. 9 University of Mount Olive had to wait until the bottom of the tenth before the Trojans' Drew Ellis hit a walk-off grand slam to take down Wingate University 10-6 at Scarborough Field in non-conference baseball Wednesday night.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Mount Olive 10, Wingate 6
Records: Mount Olive (16-5, 6-0 CC), Wingate (12-9)
Location: Scarborough Field, Mount Olive, N.C.
How It Happened
Play-by-Play
GAME RUNDOWN
- Mount Olive fell behind early as Wingate capitalized on a Trojan error as the Bulldogs took an early 1-0 lead.
- Zach Mozingo answered for the Trojans in the bottom of the second as he found a 2-1 fast ball and lifted a pitch over the right field wall to tie the game.
- Following Mozingo, Jason Smith wasted no time as he belted a pitch over the left field wall as UMO went back-to-back to take a 2-1 lead heading into the third.
- The Bulldogs added two runs in the top of the fifth to regain the lead 3-2.
- UMO remained unphased as the Trojans capitalized on a wild pitch and a throwing error by the Bulldogs to push home two runs and retake the lead in the bottom of the fifth.
- Mount Olive and Wingate exchanged runs for the next four innings as the Bulldogs tied the game in the top of the ninth at 6-6.
- The Trojans were able to get the winning run on base in the bottom of the ninth but Wingate held Mount Olive and forced the game into extras.
- Trojan right-hander Jesse Schullstrom came in the top of the tenth and retired the Bulldogs in order to set up UMO in the bottom half.
- Bradley Ragan led off the bottom of the tenth with a double down the left field line.
- Gunner Tolston reached base via a hit by pitch and Jack Sherrill bunted both Tolston and Ragan into scoring position. Ricky Surum then worked out a six-pitch walk to load the bases.
- The table was set for the junior from Blythewood, S.C. and Drew Ellis with a 1-0 count delivered the biggest hit of the game as he smashed a ball over the right-center field wall for a grand slam walk-off home run and the Trojans walked off with a 10-6 victory.
KEY STATS
- Ellis with the grand slam led Mount Olive as he drove in five Trojans on a 3-for-5 performance at the plate.
- Mozingo, Smith, and Jose Lopez also all contributed RBI for UMO.
- Jesse Schullstrom (1-0) was credited with the win in relief for Mount Olive. Schullstrom struck out two of the three batters he faced in his inning of work.
Up Next
Mount Olive will head back into Conference Carolinas action this weekend when the Trojans hit the road to take on King University in Bristol, Tenn. The three-game series begins Friday, March 10 at 3 p.m.