Posted: Feb 02, 2018
GREENWOOD, S.C. --- No. 7 University of Mount Olive opened the 2018 season in style with a 7-5 extra innings victory over the Bearcats of Lander University at Donly Stadium in Greenwood, S.C. The victory also gave long-time Trojan Head Coach Carl Lancaster his 1,100 career win.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Mount Olive 7, Lander 5
Records: Mount Olive (1-0), Lander (0-1)
Location: Dolny Stadium, Greenwood, S.C.
How It Happened
Play-by-Play
GAME RUNDOWN
- Lander jumped out first in the ball game as an error by Mount Olive allowed the Bearcats' leadoff batter to reach all the way to second to begin the bottom of the first inning. Two batters later another mental miscue by the Trojans allowed the first run of the game to come in on a failed pickoff attempt and Lander took a 1-0 lead.
- The first hit for either team did not come until the top of the fifth when Nate Estes found a hole in center to give UMO a base runner with two outs. Mount Olive, however, was unable to bring Estes home and the score remained 1-0.
- Lander found a big offensive punch in the bottom of the seventh as they pushed home four runs off two hits, including one Trojan error, that extended their lead to 5-0.
- It wasn't until the top of the eighth that the Trojans' offense woke up as Drew Ellis led off the inning with a walk. Justin Carroll followed him with a single to right moving Ellis into scoring position at third. JT Stone finally put UMO on the board as he doubled to left and scored Ellis and Carroll.
- Jose Lopez added another run for UMO as his RBI groundout put the deficit at 5-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth.
- Reed Parris came into the game out of the bullpen and shut down Lander to set up Mount Olive for a comeback in the ninth.
- Trae Sweeting singled to start off the top of the ninth for UMO and moved up to second following a walk to Nate Estes. Sweeting then moved up to third following a fielder's choice and proceeded to score after a Lander error drawing Mount Olive to within one.
- Stone again came up clutch for Trojans as he connected on a pitch that landed in the right-field corner to clear the bases for an RBI-triple and Mount Olive had come all the way back to tie the game 5-5.
- After Mount Olive held Lander scoreless in the bottom of the ninth extra innings were needed to determine the first game of the 2018 season.
- UMO found another spark in the 11th as Drew Ellis led the inning off with a walk and was pinch ran for by Chris Douglas. Douglas quickly found himself at third base after back-to-back wild pitches. Junior Snow then picked up the go-ahead RBI-double with two outs to give UMO a 6-5 lead.
- Mount Olive added one more insurance run off the bat of Jon Cosme as he also recorded an RBI-double growing the Trojans' lead to two.
- Lander managed to get two runners on base in the bottom of the 11th, but UMO held off the Bearcat attack and took home the 7-5 win.
KEY STATS
- Reed Parris (1-0) picked up his first win in relief as he went three complete innings allowing one walk with four strikeouts and not allowing a hit.
- Zach Vennaro( Sv 1) picked up the save allowing two walks and striking out one Bearcat in his one inning of work
- JT Stone led the Trojans as he went 2-for-5 with three RBI, including a double and a triple.
- Jose Lopez, Junior Snow, and Jon Cosme also record RBI for the Trojans.
Notables
- The win tonight was career coaching win 1,100 for Head Coach Carl Lancaster.
- Coach Lancaster reached the 1,000 career wins mark on March 24, 2015, when the Trojans defeated Catawba College 12-10 in Salisbury, N.C.
COACHES COMMENTS:
- "Well, honestly it is not about the 1,100 wins. The good Lord has blessed me to be able to be around the great game of baseball for a long time and I'm just grateful for all the awesome kids we have had over the years. I am also so proud of how they continue to support the Trojans," said Head Coach Carl Lancaster.
UP NEXT
Mount Olive will complete the three-game series with Lander tomorrow as the two teams will compete in a doubleheader set to begin at noon in Greenwood, S.C.