MOC-Shepherd baseball

Published in Sports on April 8, 2005 1:50 PM

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SHEPHERDSTOWN, W. Va. -- Stephen Nordan's two-run single - his fourth hit of the game - highlighted a five-run 12th inning and Bryan Corbett pitched the final eight-plus innings in relief as Mount Olive defeated Shepherd 8-6 in 12 innings in game two to complete a doubleheader sweep in non-conference baseball Thursday afternoon.

The Trojans won the first game 5-2 as Dustin Richardson's solo home run ignited a three-run fifth inning. Richardson, who entered Thursday's doubleheader with one home run on the season, also homered in the second game.

Mount Olive (20-22) broke a scoreless tie when Josh Carter led off the top of the second with a double, advanced to third on Nick Paniccia's single and scored on a double steal attempt while Paniccia was in a rundown.

The Trojans added to their lead in the fifth as Richardson hit a one-out home run over the left field fence. Lance Martin and Ricky Davis walked and both scored on RBI-singles by Santos Estremera and Nordan to extend Mount Olive's lead to 4-0.

Trojan starter Philip Pennington (4-1) kept Shepherd (12-10) scoreless until the sixth when Ryan Brady hit a leadoff double and scored on a single by Dirk Webb. The Rams loaded the bases with one out, but reliever Brett Williams got out of the inning with a 6-4-3 double play.

After Nordan singled home a run in the top of the seventh to give Mount Olive a 5-1 lead, Shepherd again loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Donald Huff came out of the bullpen to hold Shepherd to one run in the inning and shut down the rally with a run-scoring ground out and a strikeout.

Davis led off the second game for Mount Olive with a bunt single, went to second on Jordan Arnold's sacrifice and scored on Nordan's single to put the Trojans on top 1-0 in the top of the first.

After picking up his first save of the season in game one, Huff started game two and took a shutout into the fourth inning. But David Toth led off the inning with a double and scored the tying run on a single by Webb. Corbett entered the game in relief and retired the final two batters of the inning.

Richardson's solo home run in the top of the fifth put the Trojans back on top, but Shepherd tied the game again in the bottom of the inning on a pair of singles and a ground out.

Mount Olive regained the lead in the top of the seventh as Richardson singled, stole second and scored on Martin's double down the left field line. The Trojans were within two outs of completing the sweep, but Collin Brown, a junior from Durham and a transfer from North Carolina State, hit a solo home run to tie the game and force extra innings.

Shepherd threatened in the bottom of the eighth when an error gave the Rams a runner on third with one out. The next two batters were intentionally walked to load the bases and Corbett followed with back-to-back strikeouts to get out of the jam.

Mount Olive had its own scoring opportunity in the top of the 11th when Nordan and Carter both singled to lead off the inning and advanced on a throwing error. Corbett, who entered the game hitting .556 as a designated hitter, drew an intentional walk to load the bases. But Shepherd got out of the inning on a force out at the plate and a double play.

Mount Olive loaded the bases with nobody out again in the 12th, but this time the Trojans were able to capitalize. Estremera walked with the bases loaded to drive in the go-ahead run and Nordan followed with a two-run single to right. Anthony Williams scored the fourth run of the inning and Nordan scored on Carter's single to give the Trojans an 8-3 lead.

Shepherd struck back with three runs in the bottom of the 12th on an error, an RBI double and an RBI single. The Rams had the tying run on base and the winning run at the plate, but Corbett (4-2) sealed the win with a fielder's choice.

Corbett, who struck out six and walked two, is 2-0 with a save in his last three appearances.

Nordan went 4-for-5 with three RBI in game two and was 6-for-9 with five runs batted in for the doubleheader. Carter, Martin and Richardson had two hits apiece in the second game.

The doubleheader sweep extends the Trojans' winning streak to four.

The two teams completed their three-game series with a single game today at 1 p.m.

MOC Sports Information