Posted: Apr 29, 2018
BURLINGTON, N.C. --- No. 25 University of Mount Olive baseball stayed alive in its second elimination game of the Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship Tournament defeating the Crusaders of Belmont Abbey College 6-4 on Sunday afternoon in Burlington, N.C.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Mount Olive 6, Belmont Abbey 4
Records: Mount Olive (35-13-1) Belmont Abbey (37-12)
Location: Burlington Athletic Stadium, Burlington, N.C.
How It Happened
Play-by-Play
GAME RUNDOWN
- The second elimination game of the tournament started off with Mount Olive trailing from the from the first inning as a Nick Beinlich solo home run gave the Crusaders a 1-0 lead.
- The Trojans fought back in the bottom of the second as Blake McLean tripled to lead-off the inning. Jordan Huntley drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly to deep left field and the game was knotted after two complete innings.
- BAC then regained the lead with an RBI-double in the top of the third.
- The Crusaders had a two-run top of the fifth with a home run and an RBI-single to push their lead out to 4-1.
- In the bottom of the fifth, Chris Douglass started the UMO comeback with a lead-off single to right. Douglass then advanced to second on a wild pitch.
- Trae Sweeting then drew a walk and following a flyout that moved Douglass to third, Jose Lopez singled into right-center driving home Sweeting and Douglass to bring the deficit to 4-3.
- The game remained deadlocked at 4-3 until Mount Olive made a push in the seventh.
- Douglass started the bottom of the seventh off on an odd play as on a 3-1 count the pitch was delivered and got away from the Crusaders catcher and the Trojans second baseman took off speeding all the way to second on just a walk.
- Douglass then advanced to third on a wild pitch and set up Sweeting reaching first on a hit by pitch.
- Nate Estes had by far the biggest hit of the game as he belted a pitch to right field and over the wall for a three-run home run putting Mount Olive back on top 6-4.
- UMO held off the Crusaders rally in the ninth, that saw two runner reach base, and Mount Olive stayed alive to move on in the tournament.
KEY STATS
- Zach Vennaro (6-1) got the win for Mount Olive in relief as he came in to pitch the final four and two thirds of the game allowing four hits, two walks, and struck out one.
- Nate Estes only had one hit in the game but it was the biggest of the game as his three-run home run gave UMO the win.
Up Next
The Trojans remain in the losers bracket and will face King University in another elimination game at 7:15 p.m. Sunday in a quick turnaround in Burlington, N.C.