Three Trojan hurlers set school strikeout mark

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on April 21, 2011 1:55 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Pitchers Pete Levitt, Curtis Hudson and David Combs combined for a school-record 16 strikeouts as No. 1-ranked Mount Olive defeated Barton 7-3 in non-conference play Wednesday evening at Scarborough Field.

Levitt (7-2) finished with nine strikeouts in five innings, and fanned eight of the final 11 batters he faced. Levitt gave up three hits and three unearned runs.

Hudson allowed only one hit in three scoreless innings, striking out six and retiring nine of the 10 batters he faced. Combs retired the side in order in the top of the ninth, notching the record-breaking 16th strikeout for the second out of the inning.

The trio combined on a four-hitter and retired 24 of the final 27 Bulldog batters they faced. B.J. Dail still holds the individual school record (15 strikeouts) he set against Limestone on April 10, 2009.

Designated hitter Mike Knox and Tyler Smith led Mount Olive's 10-hit attack with two hits apiece. Smith, who drew two walks, reached base in each of his four plate appearances.

Antonio Callaway's bases-loaded, two-RBI single ignited a four-run, second inning as the Trojans rallied from an early 3-0 deficit. Dan Hayduk started the uprising with a one-out bunt single. Jason Simone provided a game-tying, RBI sacrifice fly and Knox pushed the Trojans ahead with an RBI single.

The Trojans added a single run in the third.

Ryan Faison scored on a wild pitch in the sixth and Joseph Westbrook capped the scoring with an RBI double in the eighth.

Mount Olive (35-6 overall) is ranked No. 1 in the first NCAA Division II Southeast Region poll of the season. The Trojans entertain Chowan University next Wednesday and play a crucial three-game series April 30-May 1 against in-state rival Catawba, which is ranked No. 2 in the region.