Due West, S.C. --- The second-ranked University of Mount Olive won the 2017 Conference Carolinas regular season championship with a doubleheader victory over Erskine College, 7-4, 9-6, on the road in Conference Carolinas baseball action Friday afternoon in Due West, S.C. Also with the win, Mount Olive has secured the No. 1 seed in the Conference Carolinas baseball tournament.
GAME INFORMATION
Score:
Game 1: Mount Olive 7, Erskine 4
Game 2: Mount Olive 9, Erskine 6
Records: Mount Olive (36-7, 21-2 CC) Erskine (24-17, 13-10 CC)
Location: Grier Field, Due West, S.C.
How It Happened
Game 1: Play-by-Play
Game 2: Play-by-Play
GAME ONE
- Mount Olive opened up the first game with a solo home run by Drew Ellis with two outs in the top of the first to take the first lead of the game.
- Erskine answered in the bottom of the second with a two-run home run to left center to take a 2-1 lead.
- The Trojans regained the lead 3-2 in the top of the fourth with a two-run home run of their own by Jason Smith.
- UMO again used the long ball to extend the Trojan lead as Zach Mozingo belted a two-run home run to right-center in the top of the fifth.
- The two squads exchanged home runs as Mount Olive's Tony Salvaggio homered in the top of the sixth while the Flying Fleet drew closer with a two-run home run in the eighth.
- Mozingo not to be outdone crushed his second home run of the game in the top of the ninth to push UMO ahead 7-4. The senior then came in to close out the game in the bottom of the ninth.
KEY STATS GAME 1
- Bruce Zimmermann (8-1) took the win on the mound as the senior gave up four runs off nine hits and struck out seven.
- Zach Mozingo (S: 11) came in for the save allowing just one hit and striking out three in the final frame.
- Mozingo also led the team with three RBI followed by Jason Smith with two RBI.
GAME TWO
- Mount Olive unlike in game one, fell behind early to the Flying Fleet as Erskine utilized an RBI-triple by Trevor Wood and a Henry Faunce RBI-single to move out ahead 2-0 after the first inning.
- The Trojans did not falter as they struck back in the top of the second with four runs off an RBI-single by Jack Sherrill and a three-run home run, his third of the day, by Mozingo to take a 4-2 lead.
- UMO added a pair of runs in the top of the fourth to extend the lead to four.
- Erskine fought back once more with a single run in the fifth and a three-run bottom of the sixth to tie the game at six.
- The final frame for the Trojans began with a lead-off walk to David Mayo. He was then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Salvaggio. Sherrill doubled to center but Mayo was held at third. Justin Lee came into pinch hit and quickly took first after he was hit by a pitch. Trae Sweeting came in to pinch run for Lee and Mozingo drew the bases loaded walk to give the Trojans the lead. Ricky Surum then drove in two more insurance runs with an RBI-double down the right field line and UMO led 9-6.
- Erskine was retired in order in the bottom of the seventh and Mount Olive took game two.
KEY STATS GAME 2
- Trey Pate (5-0) was credited with the win in relief as he pitched the last inning and a third allowing a hit and he struck out one.
- Mozingo again led the team with four RBI in game two.
Up Next
Mount Olive will wrap up the three-game series with Erskine tomorrow with a single nine-inning contest in Due West, S.C. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.