Infield miscue aids MOC rally

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on March 23, 2009 1:46 PM

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MOC Sports Information

MOUNT OLIVE --Airlon Vinson scampered home on a ninth-inning error as Mount Olive College upended Shepherd (W. Va.) University 5-4 on Sunday afternoon at Scarborough Field.

Trailing 4-3 after 81/2 innings, Jesse Lancaster doubled to start the Trojans' game-ending rally. Vinson doubled home Lancaster, and advanced to third on consecutive walks to Rich Racobaldo and Alex Vertcnik.

Montoya Young connected on a routine grounder that Shepherd's shortstop misplayed. Vinson crossed the plate to give Mount Olive a 3-0 sweep in the non-conference, weekend series.

The Trojans (19-12 overall) claimed their 13th straight victory against the Rams and 15th overall in the series since 2002. Shepherd (11-7) entered the weekend ranked No. 10 in the latest Atlantic Region poll.

Racobaldo, a senior infielder, batted 3-for-4 with an RBI. Vinson contributed two hits and an RBI.

Right-hander B.J. Dail started on the mound, but earned a no-decision. Left-hander Paul Novicki entered in the eighth inning and Kyle Jones (1-1) earned the victory in relief of Novicki.

Mount Olive begins a five-game road swing Tuesday at in-state rival Catawba College. The doubleheader starts at 2:30 p.m. The Trojans visit Conference Carolinas foe Belmont Abbey for a weekend series on Saturday and Sunday.

Softball

MISENHEIMER -- Jenny Jackson drove in Mount Olive's lone run during a doubleheader loss to defending Conference Carolinas softball champion Pfeiffer University on Sunday afternoon.

The Falcons swept the Trojans 3-1 and 5-0.

Jackson delivered her seventh-inning, RBI single in the opening game. Kat Cahoon, who suffered a forearm injury in the second game, scored on the base hit. The Trojans finished with nine hits, but stranded 11 runners on base.

Mount Olive (15-14-1, 6-4 CC) allowed four first-inning runs in the second game. Trojan starter Kristin Ware (5-5) retired the first two batters on infield pop-ups. But the Falcons drew back-to-back walks and used consecutive hits to seize control.

Pfeiffer (18-10) improved to 6-4 in league play.

The Trojans visit UNC Pembroke on Tuesday.

Tennis

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive College split its Conference Carolinas twinbill against in-state rival Lees-McRae on the Walker Tennis Center courts Saturday afternoon.

The No. 39-ranked Bobcats edged the Trojans 5-4 on the men's side, while the Trojan women collected a 6-3 victory.

Camila Kurebayashi, Sofia Medeiros and Kristen Jones each picked up a singles point for MOC. Kurebayashi rallied from an opening-set loss to beat Lyndsay Pegram 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.

MOC swept the doubles behind Carol Aro-Jessica Souza, Jones-Medeiros and Kurebayashi-Pietra Viana.

The Trojan men seized a 2-1 lead in doubles action, but managed just two singles victories. Frederico Barros-Murilo Pelegrino and Diogo Miranda-Diogo Sender each prevailed in doubles.

Alexandre Queiros and Pelegrino triumphed at Nos. 2 and 4 singles, respectively. The Trojans (3-10 overall) suffered their first league defeat in three outings this season.

Mount Olive returns to action Friday at Shaw University.