Posted: May 01, 2017
Elon, N.C. --- The top-ranked University of Mount Olive won the 2017 Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship with a 5-4 walk-off walk victory over Belmont Abbey College Monday afternoon in Elon, N.C. Mount Olive after falling in the opening round won five straight elimination games to win the Trojans 15th Conference Carolinas Championship.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Mount Olive 5, Belmont Abbey 4
Records: Mount Olive (47-8) Belmont Abbey (33-17)
Location: Latham Park, Elon, N.C.
How It Happened
Play-by-Play
GAME RUNDOWN
- Mount Olive found itself behind early as Belmont Abbey came out and attacked in the top of the first. The Crusaders pushed home three runs on four hits and took the momentum.
- The Trojans' offense stalled from the beginning as UMO only managed two hits over the first four innings.
- The bottom of the fifth looked to be much of the same as the first two batters were retired in order to start the inning. Tony Salvaggio singled to left center to give Mount Olive a base runner. Salvaggio then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Trae Sweeting singled up the middle to drive Salvaggio in and UMO trailed 3-1. Zach Mozingo then gave Mount Olive the lift it needed as he tied the game with a home run to left center and the game was knotted at three.
- Belmont Abbey responded by taking the lead back on a Luke Cureton solo home run in the top of the sixth.
- UMO managed to get the tying run on twice in the seventh and eighth, but could not find the key hit to drive in the run.
- The bottom of the ninth set up to be like no other. Gunner Tolston came up with one away to pinch hit and quickly got on base with a single through the right side. Bradley Ragan came into pinch hit and worked out a walk to move Tolston to second. Sweeting then scored Tolston from second on an RBI-single through the left side and tied the game at four. Mozingo then continued the inning by working out a walk to load the bases and force a Belmont Abbey pitching change. Ricky Surum with a 3-1 count waited for the delivery from the Crusader pitcher and watched ball four fall out of the zone allowing Ragan to score from third and UMO walked-off with the 2017 Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship.
KEY STATS
- Zach Mozingo (3-0) was credited with the win in relief as the senior pitched the final inning allowing one batter to reach base on a walk and not allowing a hit.
- Zach Mozingo and Trae Sweeting both led the team with two RBI performances at the plate.
Notables
- Following the game Austin Hutchison, German Reyes, Trae Sweeting, and Drew Ellis were named to the Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team. Zach Mozingo was also named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
Up Next
Mount Olive will now wait for their seeding in the 2017 NCAA DII Southeast Regional Tournament to be held on May 18-22 at a site to be determined.