Mount Olive, N.C.----The ninth-ranked Trojans of Mount Olive College rallied for a 5-4 win in the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon, then took a 16-2 victory in the nightcap, sweeping Wingate University to improve to 10-2 overall. The Bulldogs fall to 11-6 on the season.
Game #1: Mount Olive 5, Wingate 4
Junior outfielder Casey Allison (Horse Shoe, N.C.) had a homer and two RBI to lead the wingate attack, while junior outfielder Jacob Karr (Richmond, Va.) added a pair of doubles and a run scored. Junior shortstop Chris Vazquez (Tyrone, Ga.) went two-for-three with a double, while freshman infielder Cody Shelton (Charlotte, N.C.) was two-for-three with a double, RBI and run scored.
Antonio Callaway and Ryan Faison had two RBI each to lead the Mount Olive offense, while Stephen Rodgers was two-for-three with an RBI and run scored.
The Trojans jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second on a two-run double from Faison. Wingate cut the lead in half in the third when Vazquez singled to right and the Mount Olive right fielder committed an error, allowing Shelton to score.
Mount Olive answered in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single from Jacob Rogers to make it 3-1.
The ‘Dogs plated three runs in the sixth to take the lead. Allison started it by blasting his second homer of the season over the left field fence, a two-run shot to tie it at three. Karr followed with a double, then scored on an RBI double from Shelton to make it 4-3.
The Trojans had the answer in the seventh and final inning of game one. Mount Olive loaded the bases via three walks, sandwiched around a pair of strikeouts, bringing Callaway to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded. He lined a two-two pitch to left center field, driving home the tying and winning run, giving the Trojans the walk-off win.
Curtis Hudson got the win, allowing three runs on three hits in 2 2/3 innings of work, improving to 1-0 on the year. Sophomore right-hander Justin Somers (Wilmington, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 1-1 on the season. The Wingate closer allowed two runs on only one hit, but walked three while striking out two in one inning of work.
Game #2: Mount Olive 16, Wingate 2
The Trojans pounded out 20 hits in the second game, plating 11 runs in the first three innings. Jason Simone was four-for-five with two doubles and four RBI to lead the attack. Michael Knox had a pair of hits, an RBI and three runs scored, while Braden Reitano was three-for-four with a double, three RBI and two runs scored.
Redshirt sophomore first baseman Brian Yeung (Raleigh, N.C.) was three-for-four with an RBI to lead the Wingate offense. Senior outfielder Brandon Santiago (Monroe, N.C.) was two-for-three with a double and a run scored for the Bulldogs.
The Trojans jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first, getting three consecutive RBI singles, followed by a two-run double from Reitano. A bases-loaded hit batsman, sacrifice fly and RBI single gave Mount Olive an 8-0 lead after two innings.
Wingate got on the board in the third on an RBI single from Yeung to cut the deficit to seven. The Trojans responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by an RBI double from Simone.
Shelton drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth to make it 11-2. The Trojans regained a 10-run lead in the fourth, scoring on a wild pitch. Mount Olive added four more runs in the fifth, getting another RBI double from Simone, while the day’s final run scored on a wild pitch.
Josh Frederick got the win for the Trojans, improving to 1-0 on the year. He pitched 1 2//3 innings of scoreless ball, allowing one hit. Senior left-hander Cale Rogers (Snow Camp, N.C.) took the loss, allowing eight runs on 10 hits in 1 1/3 innings of work.
Wingate returns to action Friday, traveling to Tusculum College to open up a three-game series against the 13th-ranked Pioneers at 7 p.m.
