Trojan baseball crushes Anderson (S.C.); softball team splits with Francis Marion (S.C.)

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on February 22, 2010 1:46 PM

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MOC Sports Information

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mike Knox, Daniel Coffey and Bobby Leeper each cranked a home run as No. 16-ranked Mount Olive College dismantled Anderson (S.C.) 12-1 on Sunday afternoon at Scarborough Field.

The Trojans (9-0 overall) remained unbeaten in six Conference Carolinas outings this season.

Knox and Coffey's home runs powered a five-run, fifth-inning outburst to help Mount Olive break open a slim 3-1 lead. Knox concluded the day with two hits and two RBI in four at-bats, and has four home runs this season.

Coffey slapped a solo homer -- his third of 2010.

Leeper crushed a seventh-inning grand slam to send Anderson (6-7) to its third league loss in five tries this season. Leeper ended the nine-inning affair with two extra-base knocks and four RBI.

MOC hurler Curtis Hudson (2-0) yielded an unearned run in five-plus innings on the mound. Jared Mortensen, Jackson Massey and Jeremy Nowak combined for three-plus innings of scoreless relief.

MOC softball splits

MOUNT OLIVE -- Kristin Ware tossed a complete-game, three-hit shutout as Mount Olive nipped Francis Marion 1-0 in the nightcap of a non-conference, softball doubleheader on Sunday afternoon.

The Patriots won the opener, 9-6.

Kelly Minshew tallied the game-winning run on a bases-loaded, no-outs wild pitch. Mount Olive, which started the season 0-7, improved to 2-8 heading into Wednesday's home twinbill against Wingate.

Ware logged four strikeouts and retired 10 consecutive batters before yielding a lead-off single in the seventh. FMU hit into three straight outs to end the inning.

Minshew and Aubrey Reinhard each cranked out a two-strike single to start the Trojans' seventh. Courtney Bell reached on a bunt single to load the sacks. Katie Nalley drew a wild pitch and Minshew scooted home.

FMU posted five, fourth-inning runs in game one.

Mount Olive answered with a six-run outburst. Minshew doubled home the first run. Reinhard, Kayla Voorhees, Allison Czerski and Mandy Hensley each contributed an RBI single.

The Patriots added three runs in the sixth.