Posted: Apr 29, 2017
Greensboro, N.C. --- The top-ranked University of Mount Olive escaped elimination defeating North Greenville University, 6-3, in the third elimination game of the Conference Carolinas baseball tournament Saturday afternoon in Greensboro, N.C.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Mount Olive 6, North Greenville 3
Records: Mount Olive (44-8) North Greenville (38-15)
Location: UNCG Stadium, Greensboro, N.C.
How It Happened
Play-by-Play
GAME RUNDOWN
- Mount Olive saw North Greenville attack early as the Crusaders Ryan Brown singled home a run and then scored later in the inning to give NGU a 2-0 lead.
- The Trojans did not let the lead stand for long as Zach Mozingo belted a solo home run in the first at-bat of the bottom of the first. Drew Ellis singled to right field after a groundout to continue the inning. Two more straight singles allowed Ellis to score as David Mayo's RBI-single to left center was deep enough to tie the game at two.
- Brown again came through for NGU in the top of the second driving in a single run to put the Crusaders up 3-2.
- UMO had to wait until the bottom of the fifth to find it's next offensive outburst. Mozingo led off the inning with a walk and was followed by a Ricky Surum single and an Ellis single to load the bases with no one out. Jose Lopez reached on a fielding error by North Greenville and both Surum and Mozingo scored to give Mount Olive the lead 4-3.
- The bottom of the seventh proved to be another key inning for the Trojans as they tacked on two more insurance runs. Lopez led off the inning with a single up the middle. He was then driven in by Mayo who tripled to left center. Alvin Swoope scored the final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly RBI and UMO held a 6-3 lead.
- Mount Olive shut the door in the top of the ninth and stayed alive to play another day in the Conference Carolinas Tournament.
KEY STATS
- Senior Kodi Whitley (1-0) was credited with the win as he pitched an inning and a third of hitless baseball and struck out three Crusaders. The victory is the first for Whitley in over two years since coming off of Tommy John surgery.
- Zach Mozingo (SV: 13) picked up the save as he pitched the final three innings and allowed one hit and struck out five.
- David Mayo led the team with two RBI in his 3-for-4 outing at the plate.
Up Next
Mount Olive will have a rematch with Pfeiffer, who the Trojans fell to in the opening round 9-2, Sunday at 1 p.m. The fourth elimination game will be played at UNC Greensboro's UNCG Stadium in Greensboro, N.C.