Lovett has 10 RBIs in one game for Mount Olive

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on April 1, 2007 2:13 AM

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ANDERSON, S.C. -- Erik Lovett went 4-for-5 with two home runs and a school record 10 runs batted in and nationally 15th-ranked set a school single-game scoring record for the second time this season as the Trojans defeated Anderson 28-7 in game two of a Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference baseball doubleheader Saturday at Anderson, S.C.

In sharp contrast to the nightcap, Mount Olive was held scoreless through six innings and had its 14-game winning streak snapped with a 5-2 loss in game one.

After struggling to push a run across the plate in the opener, Mount Olive (33-9 overall, 13-3 CVAC) erupted for five runs in each of the first two innings.

Stephen Nordan opened the scoring with the first of his two home runs in the game, an opposite-field shot to left with one out in the first inning. Dustin Richardson drew a walk one out later and Lovett followed with a two-run homer, also going opposite field to left-center.

Josh Carter kept the inning alive with a double and Josh Harrison drilled a home run to straightaway center field to give the Trojans a 5-0 lead after a half-inning.

Scott Houin's two-run single keyed a five-run second inning to extend Mount Olive's lead to 10-0. Lovett drove in a run with one out in the inning when he reached on an infield error with runners on first and third.

Lovett and Carter connected on RBI singles in the top of the third and Harrison narrowly missed a three-run homer, settling for an RBI double when his shot to right-center hit two feet below the top of the fence. The Trojans added a run on an error to make the score 14-0.

After Anderson got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third, Mount Olive struck for four more runs in the top of the fourth. Lovett singled in two runs with the bases loaded and Carter hit a two-run triple to give the Trojans an 18-1 lead.

David Cooper's two-run triple in the top of the fifth put Mount Olive at the 20-run mark for the second time this season. The Trojans then put on another home run derby as Nordan hit a two-run shot and Lovett capped the seven-run inning with a three-run blast to extend Mount Olive's lead to 25-1.

Anderson struck for four runs in the bottom of the fifth, but Mount Olive continued its scoring barrage in the sixth. Houin drove in two runs with a bases loaded single to make the score 27-5, tying the Trojans' single-game run-scoring record set March 15 against Indiana (Pa.).

Lovett stepped to the plate one batter later with the bases loaded, but had to settle for a broken bat sacrifice fly for his 10th RBI and the Trojans' record-breaking 28th run.

Carter and Houin added four RBI apiece for the Trojans, while Nordan and Harrison each drove in three runs. Lovett also scored five runs.

"I've never had a day like this," said Lovett, who took over sole possession of the team lead in home runs (13) and runs batted in (55). "I thought I hit the ball well on the sac fly, but the bat kind of gave out on me."

Darrell Ellis (5-1) allowed three earned runs on three hits in five innings pitched in the seven-inning game. Thomas Newsome pitched the final two innings for the Trojans.

Carter, Cooper and Nordan had two hits apiece in the opener.

The loss marked the first time this season the Trojans dropped the opening game of a CVAC series. Mount Olive suffered its first defeat since March 10 at Coker.

The two teams conclude their three-game series Sunday. Mount Olive has won each of its first five CVAC series. Game time is 1 p.m.

-- MOC sports information