Trojan's Nowak delivers key single

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on March 11, 2010 2:20 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Jeremy Nowak cranked out a tie-breaking, two-RBI single in the seventh inning and No. 2-ranked Mount Olive College escaped Davis & Elkins 3-1 on the Scarborough Field diamond Wednesday afternoon.

Nowak's two-out delivery completed the two-game sweep of the Senators and gave the Trojans their 19th victory in 20 outings this season.

Tied at 1-1 after 61/2 innings, Ryan Faison drew a one-out walk to start Mount Olive's game-winning rally. Faison stole second and advanced to third on a groundout.

Jesse Lancaster walked and stole second, setting the table for Nowak. In danger of going hitless for the first time this season, Nowak lined an opposite field single to left to bring in two runs and extend his hitting streak to 20. Nowak drove in all three Trojan runs.

MOC reliever David Combs retired the Senators in order in the eighth inning. Ryan Williams started the ninth and Aaron Hallett drilled a pitch down the first-base line past the bag, that was eventually ruled foul after a lengthy discussion by the umpires.

Hallett grounded out.

Eric Doyle singled and Nathan Smith reached on a "seeing-eye" base hit. Faison slid in front of second base to keep the ball in the infield. Williams retired the next batter on a strikeout and Nowak recorded the game-ending out in right field.

It was Williams' first save of the season.

Jeremy Hall claimed the mound victory in relief of starter Jared Mortensen, who yielded an earned run on three hits in three innings of work. Hall sat down nine of 11 batters during a four-inning stint and induced 10 groundouts.

Davis & Elkins finished with seven hits.

The Trojans, unbeaten at home this season, collected six hits.

MOC entertains archrival Barton in an always-pivotal Conference Carolinas series this weekend. The teams play a doubleheader beginning at noon Saturday and a single game Sunday with a 1 p.m. start time.