MOC baseball

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on March 5, 2007 2:49 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Dustin Richardson hit two home runs in game one and Erik Lovett belted his conference-leading ninth home run in the nightcap as nationally 27th-ranked Mount Olive swept a Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference baseball doubleheader over Erskine on Saturday at Scarborough Field.

The Trojans won the first game 12-5 and took home game two 10-5 to complete the three-game series sweep.

Mount Olive (16-6 overall, 5-1 CVAC) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning in game one, powered by rbi-doubles by Lovett and Josh Harrison. Stephen Nordan hit a two-run homer in the second inning and Richardson added solo home runs in the third and fifth innings as the Trojans extended the lead to 10-0.

Trojan starter Judson Smith (3-1) held Erskine (14-8, 4-5) scoreless through five innings until the Flying Fleet struck for four runs in the top of the sixth. Ted Pelech pitched the final three innings for Mount Olive.

In the second game, the Trojans overcame an early 3-1 deficit with a six-run third inning, highlighted by Lovett's home run and a two-run double by David Cooper. The Trojans added two runs in the sixth on Cooper's leadoff triple and RBI doubles by Nordan and Richardson.

Weston Curles (1-2) picked up the win, relieving starter Anthony Hernandez in the second inning. Todd Jeffreys and Patrick Ball each pitched a scoreless inning to close out the win.

Mount Olive plays host to nationally 22nd-ranked Francis Marion for a two-game non-conference series Tuesday and Wednesday at Scarborough Field. The Trojans posted a 4-2 victory over Francis Marion in early February when the Patriots were ranked No. 7 in the poll. Game time both days is 3 p.m.