Mount Olive baseball team splits doubleheader

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on February 2, 2004 2:00 PM

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NEWBERRY, S.C. -- Mount Olive College opened the baseball season with a pair of weekend wins over Newberry. The Trojans split a Saturday doubleheader with Newberry, winning the opener 7-4 and falling 5-2 in the nightcap. On Sunday, Mount Olive crushed newberry 15-6 behind home runs by Matt Johnson and Stevie Parrish.

On Saturday, Stephen Nordon's two-run single sparked a five-run third inning in game one.

Mount Olive (1-1) broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third when Mike Maffucci led of with a base hit and eventually scored on a fielder's choice and an error. Alan Thomas' double moved T.J. Fly to third, setting the table for Nordon, who finished with three runs batted in for the game.

Nordon eventually scored on a single by Craig Hurba, who scored the fifth run of the inning on a double by Steve Parrish. The Trojans added two more runs in the fourth.

Starter Brian Corbett and Ricky Duke combined on a five-hitter for the Trojans. Corbett struck out six in 3 1/3 innings, while Duke recorded five strikeouts.

In the second game, Steve Parrish doubled home a run in the top of the first, but Newberry (1-1) struck for two runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good.

Dean Walker drove in four runs for Newberry with a pair of two-run singles. Mount Olive loaded the bases in the sixth, but Newberry limited the Trojans to one run in the inning.

Parrish and Johnson both homered and Mount Olive used a pair of five-run innings to break open a close game in Sunday's action.

Mount Olive (2-1) broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the third when Nordon drew a one-out walk and eventually scored on Parrish's two-out single. Newberry (1-2) tied the game in the bottom of the fourth before the Trojans took the lead for good in the fifth.

Nick Paniccia doubled home a run and Johnson delivered a two-run single as the Trojans erupted for five runs to take a 7-2 lead. Newberry anwered with two runs in the bottom of the inning, but Mount Olive put the game away in the eighth as Johnson led off with a home run and Parrish delivered a three-run homer to give the Trojans a 12-4 lead.

Mount Olive added three more runs in the ninth.

Starter Michael Erexson (1-0) allowed one unearned run and four hits for the victory. Josh Clow struck out four batters in two innings of relief and Steve Wesley recorded five strikeouts in three innings for the Trojans.

Mount Olive is off until this weekend, when the Trojans play their home opener. Mount Olive plays host to Catawba in a doubleheader Saturday beginning at noon, then plays host to Lenoir-Rhyne Sunday in a twinbill beginning at 1 p.m.

Saturday's games

Game 1

MOC 005 200 0 -- 7 10 1

NEWBERRY 000 301 0 -- 4 5 3

Leading hitters -- MOC -- Alan Thomas (3-for-4, double, 2 runs); Craig Hurba (2-for-3, double, RBI); Stephen Nordon (1-for-3, 3 RBI). Newberry -- Stuart Kay (1-for-2, home run, 2 RBI).

WP -- Brian Corbett (1-0). LP -- Pete Stuppiello (0-1)

Game 2

MOC 100 001 0 -- 2 4 1

NEWBERRY 200 030 x -- 5 8 1

Leading hitters -- MOC -- Steve Parrish (1-for-2, double, RBI). Newberry -- Dean Walker (2-for-3, 4 RBI).

WP -- Russell Haltiwanger (1-0). LP -- Alan Fricks (0-1)

Sunday's game

MOC 101 050 053 -- 15 15 2

NEWBERRY 100 120 011 -- 6 10 3

HITTERS -- MOC -- Matt Johnson (3-for-5, home run, 3 RBI); Nick Paniccia (3-for-6, double, RBI); Steve Parrish (2-for-4, home run, 4 RBI). Newberry -- Stuart Kay (2-for-3, RBI).

Mount Olive

IP H R ER BB SO

Michael Erexon 3 4 1 0 0 2

Josh Clow 2 3 3 2 0 4

Steve Wesley 3 2 1 1 1 5

Blake Montgomery 1 1 1 1 0 3

Newberry

IP H R ER BB SO

Billy Alm 4.2 6 6 5 4 2

Jamie Maynes 0 1 1 1 0 0

Jared Locke 2.1 4 2 2 0 2

Matthew Awtrey 1/3 1 3 2 1 0

Joel Crisp 2/3 0 0 0 1 0

Ty Rollins 1 3 3 3 3 1

W -- M. Erexon (1-0). L -- B. Alm (0-1). WP -- M. Erexon; J. Clow; B. Alm 3; J. Maynes; T. Rollins. HBP -- by M. Erexon (A. Dillenger); by J. Maynes (T. Fly); by J. Clow (R. Easterby); by Montgomery (D. Till). BK -- B. Alm; M. Awtrey. PB -- C. Hurba; J. Harris 2.