Staatz, Corbett shut down Anderson in CVAC twinbill

Published in Sports on April 4, 2005 1:46 PM

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ANDERSON, S.C. -- Justin Staatz went the distance and Jonathan Pullen's two-run double highlighted a five-run fifth inning as Mount Olive defeated Anderson (S.C.) College 10-4 in game one of an NCAA Division II Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference baseball doubleheader Sunday afternoon.

The Trojans completed the sweep with a 4-3 victory in game two as Bryan Corbett ended a seventh-inning rally in relief.

In the first game, Mount Olive (18-22, 10-11 CVAC) tied the game 3-3 in the top of the fourth on Josh Carter's team-leading seventh home run of the season.

The Trojans broke the game open in the fifth as Santos Estremera singled and scored to put Mount Olive ahead to stay. Stephen Nordan, who had three hits, singled in a run and Pullen followed with his two-run double. Dustin Richardson capped the scoring with an RBI-single to give Mount Olive an 8-3 lead.

Mount Olive added two runs in the sixth as Anthony Williams tripled home a run and scored two outs later on a double by Nordan.

Staatz (5-4) struck out six and scattered eight hits for his third complete game of the season.

The Trojans took a 2-0 lead in game two as Richardson led off the top of the third with a triple and scored on a one-out single by Williams, who advanced to third and stole home.

After Anderson (16-24, 5-12) scored a run in the bottom of the third, Mount Olive answered with a run in the fourth when Richardson kept a rundown alive long enough for Nick Paniccia to score on a first-and-third double steal attempt. Paniccia's RBI-single in the top of the sixth gave the Trojans a 4-1 lead.

Anderson rallied in the bottom of the seventh, using a double and two singles to pull within 4-2 with two outs. Corbett relieved Donald Huff and allowed an RBI-single to the first batter he faced, but got out of the inning with a fly out to earn his second save of the season.

Huff (1-3) struck out three in 3.2 innings of relief for the win. Anthony Ciaramello allowed one run and four hits in three innings in his first start for the Trojans.

Mount Olive returns to action Tuesday as the Trojans head to Kinston for their annual exhibition game against the Kinston Indians of the Single A Carolina League. Game time is 7 p.m at historic Grainger Stadium.

Harris powers MOC

MOUNT OLIVE -- Lauren Harris overcame a 5-1 second-set deficit and 30 mile-per-hour wind gusts for a straight-set win in the decisive match as Mount Olive handed Pfeiffer its first conference loss with a come-from-behind 5-4 victory in their CVAC women's tennis match Saturday at Walker Tennis Center.

Mount Olive (10-5, 4-1 CVAC) rallied from a 2-1 deficit after doubles play as singles wins by No. 1 Lucia Henkle, No. 2 Mariana Shimoda and No. 4 Ashley Westbrook brought the Trojans to a 4-4 tie. Harris fought off two set points in the opening set before winning a tie-breaker, then won six straight games in the second set to complete a 7-6, 7-5 victory.

The win marked the second conference match this season Harris won the decisive match in a 5-4 win.

The start of Saturday's match was delayed 30 minutes due to rain, then was halted for 40 minutes when another storm blew through late in the afternoon. Temperatures dipped into the low 50's and wind gusts exceeded 30 miles per hour after play was resumed.

The win moved the Trojans into a tie for third place with Barton in the CVAC standings, a half-game behind second-place Pfeiffer (10-2, 5-1). Saturday's contest was a rematch of the first round of last year's CVAC women's tennis tournament.

Mount Olive returns to action Tuesday as the Trojans play host to Barton in a battle for sole possession of third place in the CVAC standings.

Freshman trio prevails

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive remained unbeaten in conference play with an 8-1 victory over Pfeiffer in their CVAC men's tennis affair Saturday at Walker Tennis Center.

The Trojans swept the three doubles matches and won five of six singles matches.

Mount Olive (9-5, 5-0 CVAC) won for the ninth time in 10 matches after starting the season 0-4. Three freshmen -- No.3 Gabriel Garcia, No. 4 Guilherme Serra and No. 5 Felipe Olarte -- improved to 5-0 in singles matches against CVAC opponents.

Saturday's win moves the Trojans into second place, a half-game behind unbeaten Barton and a half-game ahead of once-beaten Lees-McRae. Barton defeated Lees-McRae Friday.

Match postponed

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive's men's tennis match against Lees-McRae, scheduled for Sunday afternoon at Walker Tennis Center was postponed due to high wind conditions.

A make-up date is expected to be announced this week.

As a virtue of Sunday's postponement, Tuesday's CVAC contest against Barton will be a match-up of the two remaining conference unbeatens. The Trojans improved to 9-5 overall and 5-0 in the conference with their win over Pfeiffer Saturday.

Barton (15-4, 6-0) handed Lees-McRae its first conference loss Friday.

The match is also a battle of nationally-ranked teams, with Mount Olive coming in at No. 36 in the ITA Division II Men's Tennis Rankings, two spots behind No. 34 Barton.

A share of second place in the conference standings is on the line in Tuesday's CVAC women's tennis match between Mount Olive and Barton. Mount Olive (10-5, 4-1 CVAC) handed Pfeiffer its first conference loss of the season Saturday to move into a three-way tie for third place in the CVAC standings with Barton (15-5, 4-1) and Queens. Tuesday's winner joins Pfeiffer in a tie for second place in the CVAC standings.

Both matches begin Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.