Trojan baseball and softball post strong showings

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on March 1, 2004 1:55 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Craig Hurba's sixth-inning two-run single broke a scoreless tie and Brian Corbett and Blake Montgomery combined on a six-hitter as host Mount Olive defeated Barton 3-1 in game one of a Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference baseball doubleheader Sunday at Scarborough Field. In the second game, Ricky Duke went the distance and Mount Olive struck for 10 runs in the final two innings to complete the sweep 11-5.

In game one, Mount Olive starter Corbett (2-1) retired the first 11 batters he faced before allowing a two-out single in the fourth inning.

Corbett pitched 7.1 innings, allowing one run on five hits. Mount Olive (12-4 overall, 3-2 CVAC) broke the deadlock in the bottom of the sixth as Matt Johnson led off with a single, Alan Thomas drew a one-out walk and both runners scored one out later on Hurba's single to left. Barton (5-8, 3-2) got on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh when Eric McInerny hit a leadoff double and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly.

Stephen Nordan provided an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth with his third home run of the year. Montgomery pitched the final 1.2 innings to earn his second save of the season. Barton starter Kelly Stracke went the distance and tossed a six-hitter.

In the second game, Mount Olive trailed 2-1 when Nordan's two-run single highlighted a four-run fifth inning to put the Trojans on top 5-2.

Barton rallied to tie the game in the top of the sixth on Tyler Petty's three-run homer. But Mount Olive broke the game open with six runs in the bottom of the sixth as the Trojans capitalized on three Barton errors. Thomas drove in a run with a single and Hurba doubled home a run in the inning. Duke tossed a seven-hitter for Mount Olive to record the team's first complete game of the season. Barton pitcher Dee Eubanks took the loss in relief.

The two teams complete their three-game series Monday at Scarborough Field. The series was pushed back a day due to the recent snowstorm.

Game time is 3 p.m.

Trojan softball

sweeps Shepherd

MOUNT OLIVE -- Kim Goens' doubled and scored in a four-run eighth inning and singled home the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth as host Mount Olive rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat Shepherd 6-5 in game one of a non-conference NCAA II softball doubleheader Sunday at Mount Olive. In the second game, Erin Case tossed a six-hit shutout as the Trojans completed the sweep with a 5-0 victory.

In game one, Mount Olive (3-4) tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first on Niki Price's two-out rbi-single after Mia Zappacosta scored the game's first run for Shepherd (0-2) in the top of the first. The score remained 1-1 going into extra innings until Shepherd exploded for four runs in the top of the eighth, capped by Kelly Carpenter's two-run double. Mount Olive scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth and Erin Wilson hit a two-out two-run single to tie the game 5-5. After Mount Olive pitcher Shauna Cowdrey (1-1) retired the side in order in the top of the ninth, pinch-runner Tracy Evans advanced to third on a sacrifice and scored on Goens' one-out single, her fourth hit of the game.

Cowdrey held Shepher hitless until the fourth inning and took a one-hitter into the eighth inning before finishing with a five-hitter.

In the second game, Case (2-3) struck out six to pitch her first shutout at Mount Olive. Colleen Thomas hit a two-run double in the first inning and Becky Garrod added a two-run single in the third.

Zappacosta (0-1) took the loss for Shepherd in relief in game one, while Megan Hall took the loss in game two.

Mount Olive returns to action Thursday as the Trojans play host to Virginia State in a non-conference doubleheader. Game time is 1:30 p.m. at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field.