Trojan offense comes alive in late innings vs. AASU

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on March 24, 2010 1:46 PM

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MOC Sports Information

MOUNT OLIVE -- The streak continues.

Jeremy Nowak extended his school-record hitting barrage to 30 consecutive games and Mike Knox collected his nation-leading 19th home run in Mount Olive's 16-13 conquest of Armstrong Atlantic State (Ga.) University on Tuesday evening.

Nowak finished 5-for-6 for the Trojans, who erased a seven-run deficit in the final two innings. Bobby Leeper and Jesse Lancaster contributed four hits apiece in the comeback victory at Scarborough Field.

Mount Olive (27-3 overall) trailed 11-4 going into the bottom of the seventh inning after AASU broke away from a 3-3 tie. Ryan Faison and Dan Hayduk hit two-run doubles and the Pirates committed two errors in the inning as the Trojans struck for seven runs and tied the game.

The Trojans sent 11 batters to the plate.

Leeper's two-out, RBI single in the bottom of the eighth put Mount Olive ahead to stay. Lancaster singled Leeper home and Nowak singled for his fifth hit of the game. Knox followed with a three-run homer to extend the Trojans' lead to 16-11.

Armstrong Atlantic State (16-10) scored two runs in the top of the ninth, but Trojan reliever Ryan Williams (2-1) ended the rally with a flyout to center. Williams, the fourth of four Trojan pitchers, pitched the final two innings for the win.

The teams conclude their two-game, Southeast Region series today at 2 p.m.