Posted: Apr 16, 2019
MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. --- No. 25 University of Mount Olive topped the Virginia State University Trojans 9-7 in the annual battle of the Trojans on Tuesday afternoon at Scarborough Field.
GAME INFORMATION
Score:
No. 25 Mount Olive 9, Virginia State 7
Records: No. 25 Mount Olive (27-12) Virginia State (12-17)
Location: Scarborough Field, Mount Olive, N.C.
How It Happened
Play-by-Play
GAME RUNDOWN
- Mount Olive took the early lead after Junior Snow was struck by a pitch with one away to give UMO a base runner.
- After a flyout, Joe Mason moved Snow over to third with a base hit to right and the first run came home on an Aaron Hedgepeth single down the right field line and Mount Olive took the 1-0 lead.
- Virginia State answered in the top of the second with a solo home run to tie the game and the see-saw game to be, went on.
- After some smart defensive play by VSU to keep the Trojans off the boards in the second an eventually sacrifice fly by Snow allowed the go-ahead run to score and Mount Olive regained their one-run advantage.
- Virginia State once again had a response in the top of the third as they scratched across a run on an RBI-single down the left field line and tied the game again at two heading into the bottom half.
- Mount Olive, however, was unable to break the tie in the third and had to wait until the bottom of the fourth for JT Stone to push home Snow for the 3-2 go-ahead run once again.
- The top of the fifth proved to be a bit different as the VSU Trojans were able to not only get the tying run across but the go-ahead run as well and took a 4-3 lead.
- It took Mount Olive until the sixth before they saw a spark offensively as Snow singled up the middle after he saw the previous two batter retired to begin the inning.
- Snow took second on an errant throw back to the pitcher from the catcher and Stone was hit by a pitch on the subsequent pitch to put two runners on for Mount Olive.
- Mason then cleared the bases with a double to left center and gave UMO the lead once again at 5-4.
- Hedgepeth then helped the cause as without skipping a beat he drove in Mason with an RBI-single through the right side and the lead was it's largest of the game at two.
- The eighth inning proved to be the turning point in the game as Virginia State turned on the offense pushing home three runs on a two RBI-doubles and a wild pitch and regained the lead for the second time in the game, 7-6.
- The bottom of the eighth gave UMO their chance to respond and they were helped right out of the gate as Junior Snow was hit by a pitch for a second time, to lead off the inning.
- Stone moved Snow over with a sacrifice bunt and Mason then reached on a four pitch walk.
- Hedgepeth came up with another RBI chance and he came up with the biggest at-bat of the game as he demolished a pitch over the right field wall and put UMO back on top 9-7 with his fifth RBI of the day.
- Virginia State got a runner on in the top of the ninth, but Mount Olive closed the door and sealed the win taking a crazy see-saw game from VSU.
KEY STATS
- Zack Burke (2-0) got the win in relief as he pitched the final inning and a third surrendering a single hit to pick up his second win on the year.
- Aaron Hedgepeth led the team with five RBI, including the three-run game-winning home run, one run scored, going 4-for-5 on the day.
NOTABLES
- The Trojans are a perfect 8-0 against the Trojans of Virginia State in the annual battle of the Trojans as the head coach of VSU, Merrill Morgan is a Mount Olive Alum playing for Mount Olive in 1984.
Up Next
Mount Olive will hit the road for a three-game series against the Flying Fleet of Erskine College to round out Conference Carolinas play this weekend. First pitch on Friday begins at 3 p.m.