Posted: Feb 02, 2019
TAMPA, FLA. --- In the season opener the No. 23 University of Mount Olive Trojans topped the No. 2 Tampa University Spartans and Lander University Bearcats on Saturday at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla. The win against Tampa was the first win for Head Coach Rob Watt.
GAME INFORMATION
Score:
Game 1: Mount Olive 9, Tampa 6
Game 2: Mount Olive 12, Lander 8
Records: Mount Olive (2-0) Tampa (0-2) Lander (1-1)
Location: Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, Fla.
How It Happened
Game 1: Play-by-Play
Game 2: Play-by-Play
GAME ONE
- Mount Olive fell behind early as a throwing error allowed a base runner to reach and pushed the lead-off runner home to give Tampa a 1-0 lead. An RBI-single added a second run to extend the lead to two.
- The scoring took a rest for the next five innings until the Trojans found some offense in the top of the sixth.
- Back-to-back lead-off singles by Joe Mason and JT Stone set the table for pinch hitter Logan Welch to clear the bases with a double to tie the game at two with a base knock to right center.
- Three more walks in the inning allowed Nate Estes to force in the go-ahead run to give Mount Olive a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom half.
- Tampa responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning to regain the 4-3.
- Once again the duo of Mason and Stone got the bats going for the Trojans in the top of the seventh. Following a flyout, back-to-back singles by Justin Lee and Blake McLean put Mount Olive back in front 5-4.
- Tampa answered with a run in the bottom half to tie the game at five.
- The top of the eighth proved to be a strong inning for Joe Mason as he came through with a clutch three-run home run to right center following tow one-out walks and put UMO ahead 8-5.
- The Spartans were able to once again come up with a run in their half of the inning to draw the deficit to two, but a run pushed home by Mount Olive in the top of the ninth sealed the win for the Trojans.
GAME TWO
- Mount Olive got their second game of the year started off right as Jon Cosme homered to right to put UMO up 1-0 in the bottom of the first.
- Lander responded in the top of the second with a solo shot of their own and tied the game at one.
- The Bearcats then added a run in the top of the third off an RBI-single by Colton Yeager and led 2-1.
- The third proved to be the inning to give the Trojans the boost they needed as Zack Smith lifted a pitch over the right-center field wall to get the inning going.
- JT Stone followed with a two-run blast of his own over the right-field fence and Mount Olive led 4-2.
- Blake McLean added one final run via an RBI-single to right as Gunner Tolston scored and UMO extended their lead to three at the end of the third.
- Another solo home run by Lander decreased the deficit to 5-3 heading into the bottom of the fourth, but UMO poised to strike again.
- Stone lifted his second two-run long ball of the day in the bottom of the fourth to give Mount Olive a 7-3 lead.
- Justin Lee plated another run for the Trojans to move the cushion to five.
- Lander answered in the fifth with a single run.
- The seventh was another big offensive outburst as four more runs were plated by the Trojans as Mount Olive pushed ahead 12-4.
- The Bearcats had one final push in the top of the ninth as a grand slam added some excitement for LU, but UMO held any chance of a comeback as the game ended with the Trojans taking the final score 12-8.
KEY STATS GAME 1
- Kyle Davis (1-0) was credited with the win in game one going the final three innings allowing one unearned run, off six hits with a walk and a strikeout.
- Joe Mason led the Trojans going 4-for-5 from the plate with three RBI, a home run, and two runs scored.
KEY STATS GAME 2
- Reed Parris (1-0) got the win going five and a third allowing four runs off seven hits
- JT Stone led the team with five RBI going 2-for-3 with two home runs.
Up Next
Mount Olive remains on the road as the Trojans will take on the Lander Bearcats again at 11 a.m. in Tampa, Fla.