Trojan diamond nine host Coker (S.C.) in CVAC action this weekend

Published in Sports on February 24, 2006 2:14 PM

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In each of the last two seasons, the home team has come away with a three-game sweep in the baseball series between Mount Olive and Coker. The Trojans hope that streak continues this weekend.

Mount Olive plays host to Coker in a three-game Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference baseball series this weekend at Scarborough Field. The two teams play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at noon and a single game Sunday at 1 p.m.

Mount Olive (9-3 overall, 1-2 CVAC) is coming off a 10-3 non-conference win at home over Shaw Tuesday. The Trojans slugged a season-best three home runs in the games -- three-run shots by Stephen Nordan and Lance Martin, and a solo homer by Graham Wooten. The Trojans lost two-of-three in their conference-opening series at Pfeiffer last week, but enter this weekend on a three-game winning streak, tossing two shutouts and outscoring their opponents 23-3.

Nordan (.418) and Wooten (.414) are among three Trojans hitting .400 or better. Josh Harrsion, who won the first CVAC Player of the Week award this season, is hitting .400. Nordan's four-rbi performance Tuesday gives him the team lead with 16 runs batted in. Josh Carter is next with 14 rbi, followed by Harrison with 12.On the mound, Justin Staatz (2-1, 0.60 era) heads the Trojans' starting rotation this weekend. Staatz pitched four scoreless innings in his last start, a 10-0 win at Lenoir-Rhyne last Sunday. The Trojans will choose their other two starters for the weekend from among Paul Burrow (1-0), Ted Pelech (2-0) and Phillip Pennington (0-1).

Donald Huff (2-0, 2 saves, 0.00 era) may have won the Trojans' closer role with two wins and two saves in four appearances. Huff has not allowed a run and has retired 26 of the 30 batters he has faced. Coker (6-3-1, 0-0) is coming off a 21-1 win over St. Augustine's Tuesday. This weekend, marks the Cobras' conference opener.

MOC Sports Information