Knox, Hayduk, Westbrook belt HRs

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on March 19, 2010 1:47 PM

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MOC Sports Information

MOUNT OLIVE -- Welcome back, Trojans.

Less than 24 hours after playing a not-so-stellar contest against Fairmont State, No. 2-ranked Mount Olive College pounded out a 23-2, non-conference baseball victory Thursday afternoon.

Mike Knox swatted his team-leading 16th and 17th home runs of the season, and finished with six RBI. Jeremy Nowak extended his hitting streak to 26 games, tying the school record set by current assistant coach Alex Vertcnik, who established the mark during the Trojans' national championship title season in 2008.

Dan Hayduk and Joseph Westbrook also homered for Mount Olive, which seized its ninth consecutive victory and remained unbeaten in 23 home outings this season. It was Westbrook's first round-tripper of the season.

Knox went yard in the first and second innings for Trojans, who shook off an error-filled outing against the Falcons on Wednesday. MOC erupted for seven first-inning runs and built its 21-run margin through six innings of action on the Scarborough Field diamond.

Nowak concluded the day 3-for-4 with two doubles and four runs scored. Ryan Faison contributed three hits and three RBI.

Jared Mortensen started the game for the Trojans and pitched three innings. Brent Haynes (1-0), the third of six MOC relievers, pitched a hitless sixth inning and was awarded the win.

The Trojans (25-1 overall) travel to St. Andrews for a three-game Conference Carolinas series, which begins Saturday with a noon doubleheader. The teams will play a single game Sunday.

Fairmont State exited 1-10.