Posted: Mar 03, 2018
MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. --- No. 19 University of Mount Olive took a doubleheader sweep from archrival Barton College at Nixon Field on Saturday afternoon in Wilson, N.C. The sweep gave UMO a series sweep as well over the Bulldogs of Barton College.
GAME INFORMATION
Score:
Game 1: Mount Olive 7, Barton 6
Game 2: Mount Olive 8, Barton 7
Records: Mount Olive (13-3, 3-0 CC) Barton (7-14, 1-5 CC)
Location: Scarborough Field, Mount Olive, N.C.
How It Happened
Game 1: Play-by-Play
Game 2: Play-by-Play
GAME ONE
- Mount Olive got on the boards first as Trae Sweeting reached on a Barton fielding error to give the Trojans a lead-off base runner in the top of the first. Sweeting stole second and following a flyout, was driven in by Nate Estes with an RBI-triple.
- Drew Ellis plated Estes with an RBI-groundout, and Mount Olive led 2-0.
- After holding the Bulldogs scoreless in the bottom of the first, UMO pushed four runs home in the top of the fourth.
- The fourth inning saw RBI base hits by Blake McLean, Jon Cosme, and Sweeting as the Trojans extended their lead to 6-0.
- Barton answered the Trojans' four-run inning with a four-run bottom of the fourth where the Bulldogs scored all of their runs via bases-loaded walks or hit by pitches and brought the score down to 6-4, still in favor of UMO.
- The Bulldogs went on to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth with RBI-singles, and Mount Olive's lead evaporated.
- Nate Estes worked out a four-pitch one-out walk to give Mount Olive a base runner. Estes then stole second and advanced to third on a groundout from Ellis.
- Ellis would score on a shot down the third base line that was misplayed by the Bulldog's third baseman, and UMO took the 7-6 lead.
- Barton managed to get the tying run on base in the bottom of the seventh, but Mount Olive kept him from scoring and took the victory.
KEY STATS GAME 1
- Zach Vennaro (2-0) picked up the win in relief going three and a third allowing two unearned runs off three hits while striking out five Bulldogs.
- Jose Lopez led the Trojans in hits going 3-for-4 from the plate while Sweeting led the team with two RBI.
GAME TWO
- Game two started with the Trojans scoring three runs in the top of the first highlighted by a two RBI-triple by Estes and a sacrifice fly by Ellis.
- Barton answered with a single run in the bottom of the second and trailed the visiting Trojans 3-1.
- Mount Olive and Barton continued to exchange runs over the next few innings with UMO holding a 6-2 lead after the fifth.
- The Bulldogs again came back to tie the game in the next to last inning, just as they did in game one, as Barton scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth to knot the game at six.
- The table was set for a crazy finish in the final frame. Nate Estes sensing a case a Deja vu from game one worked out a one-out walk to give UMO a base runner.
- After Estes stole second, Ellis singled through the right side, and Estes motored around third and scored to give Mount Olive the 7-6 lead.
- Ellis advanced to second on the throw to the plate, which proved to be important as one out later Chris Douglas singled Ellis home, and the Trojans held a two-run cushion going into the bottom of the ninth.
- Barton got a lead-off single and brought in one run in the bottom of the ninth, but Mount Olive held off yet another Bulldog comeback and took the series finale and the three-game sweep.
KEY STATS GAME 2
- German Reyes (2-0) picked up the win in game two pitching the final inning and two-thirds allowing one run off two hits while striking out three.
- Drew Ellis led the offense going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Estes also chipped in two RBI to the Trojans attack.
Up Next
Mount Olive returns to Scarborough Field for a two-day series with No. 4 Florida Southern March 5-6. First pitch on Monday is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.