Pioneers stop No. 18-ranked Trojans

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on March 4, 2009 1:46 PM

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MOC Sports Information

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. -- Tusculum erupted for five second-inning runs and held off No. 18-ranked Mount Olive College 6-2 on Tuesday afternoon.

Dylan Holton accounted for both Trojan runs, delivered two hits and stole three bases. Will Rodriguez contributed two hits in four at-bats.

Alex Vertcnik batted 1-for-3 with an RBI.

The Pioneers (9-7 overall) loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the second on three consecutive singles. Tusculum plated its first two runs on a sacrifice fly and a groundout.

Ricky Feliz singled in a run and an infield error resulted in an unearned run. Sean Finucane added an RBI single to make it 5-0.

Left-hander Paul Novicki replaced starter David Travis (1-3) on the mound after a passed ball advanced runners to second and third. Novicki walked the next batter, but induced an inning-ending groundout to escape further damage.

Holton led off the top of the third with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. After Tusculum starter C.J. Hilliyer (2-1) struck out the next two batters, Vertcnik hit an opposite-field single to left to put Mount Olive (11-8) on the scoreboard.

Holton reached on an error to lead off the fifth inning, then stole second and went to third on an errant throw. Holton scored when Montoya Young reached on an infield error with one out as the Trojans pulled within 5-2.

Tusculum committed three of its four errors in the inning.

Novicki picked off the lone baserunner he allowed in his first three innings of relief. He ran into trouble in the sixth after a double, single and stolen base put runners on second and third with one out. Novicki struck out the next batter and reliever Patrick Ball ended the threat with a lineout to right.

Holton started another threat in the seventh, leading off with a single and advancing to second on an error. Hinrichs followed with a walk, but reliever Tyler Collins retired the next two batters. After a double steal by Holton and Hinrichs, Rich Racobaldo drew a walk to load the bases. But Rob Currie replaced Collins and got an infield pop out to end the threat.

Tusculum capitalized on three Trojan errors in the eighth to score an unearned run against reliever B.J. Dail. Currie retired the side in order in the top of the ninth to earn the save.

The teams conclude their series today.

Haynes honored

THOMASVILLE -- Brent Haynes, who threw seven scoreless innings in a road victory at perennial power USC Aiken, has been selected the Conference Carolinas pitcher of the week.

Haynes, who hails from Burlington, scattered seven hits and retired the side in the first, third and seventh innings against the Pacers. The junior right-hander logged two strikeouts and yielded one walk in his third start of the season.

Haynes is 2-1 on the mound this season.

Women's golf

VASS -- Kristin Moberg fired a second-round 78 and settled for runner-up honors at the St. Andrews Women's Spring Invitational, which concluded Tuesday.

Mount Olive ended up third in team play.

Additional details were not available on the tournament.

Softball

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Mount Olive is mired in a four-game losing streak while participating in the annual Rebel Spring Games.

The Trojans (7-7-1 overall) dropped a 5-2 decision to Gannon University on Tuesday. No result was available for the NYIT contest.

Mount Olive is scheduled to play Lewis University and Edinboro (Pa.) University today.