Trojan softball, men's tennis clinch East Division championships

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on April 16, 2012 1:48 PM

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MOC Sports Information

BANNER ELK -- Lauren Smith collected her third save of the season, Christie Wright threw a complete-game three-hitter and Mount Olive College swept Lees-McRae, 10-5 and 3-2, to claim the East Division championship on the Conference Carolinas softball scene Sunday afternoon.

The Trojans (31-15 overall, 17-5 CC) earned the No. 2 seed overall for the season-ending, eight-team conference tournament, which begins Friday in Hartsville, S.C. MOC plays seventh-seeded Coker at noon.

The tournament champ is the automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional.

In game one, Mount Olive saw its 5-0 lead disappear before taking the lead for good with two unearned runs in the top of the fifth. Katie Devenuto's infield single and a throwing error brought in the first run.

Danielle Mitchell's sacrifice fly gave the Trojans a 7-5 lead.

MOC loaded the bases in the sixth as Wright led off with a single, Jones drew a one-out walk and Devenuto reached on an error. A passed ball extended the lead to 8-5.

Kayla Voorhees capped the scoring with a two-run double.

Sarah Saunders (6-1) limited Lees-McRae to an unearned run on two hits through three innings before three Trojan errors and a passed ball led to a four-run fourth inning as the Bobcats tied the game.

Smith took over to start the fifth inning and allowed only a one-out single in the sixth, retiring the side in order in the fifth and seventh innings. She struck out four of the 10 batters she faced. Smith, who entered this weekend with one save on the season, is now within one save of tying the school single-season record.

In the nightcap, Wright (7-6) retired the side in order in the first, second and fourth innings; worked around lead-off singles in the third and fifth innings, and permitted a two-out walk in the sixth. She threw only 61 pitches through six scoreless innings before Trojan miscues led to two unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Men's volleyball

GAFFNEY, S.C. -- Junior outside hitter Adam Miracle cranked out 18 kills and Jack Tutty recorded kills on the final two points of the match, sparking Mount Olive College to a 25-22, 25-17, 17-25, 26-24 triumph over Limestone in semifinal-round play of the 2012 Conference Carolinas men's volleyball tournament Sunday afternoon.

The third-seeded Trojans (17-13 overall) travel to top-seeded Pfeiffer University for the title match Wednesday evening. MOC is the two-time defending league champion.

Lukas Hoelzl finished with 12 kills, while Alex Rivero added 10 kills as Mount Olive came within one kill of placing five players in double figures for the second straight match. Tutty compiled a .643 hitting percentage with only one error in 14 attempts.

Senior setter Jackson Metichecchia finished with 49 assists and a team-high three blocks. Libero Dan Arnold led all players with 15 digs.

Men's tennis

MOUNT OLIVE -- Seniors Murilo Pelegrino and Diogo Sender recorded singles and doubles wins in their final collegiate home matches, and East Division champion Mount Olive ended regular-season play with a 9-0 win over North Greenville (S.C.) University.

Pelegrino and Sender were recognized during senior day ceremonies prior to the Conference Carolinas match at the Walker Tennis Center. The Trojans (15-6 overall) clinched the No. 2 seed for the season-ending, dual-team tournament, which begins Friday in Sumter, S.C.

The tournament champ automatically qualifies for the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional.

MOC (9-1 CC) jumped out to a 3-0 lead after doubles play, but not without a couple scares. After Sender teamed with Brahm Moolman for an 8-3 win at No. 3 doubles, Pelegrino and Akio Mariano posted an 8-6 win at No. 2 doubles. Edgar Bub and Rik Wolthuis were forced to a tie-breaker at No. 1 doubles before winning 9-8.

Gabriel Santana extended the Trojans' lead to 4-0 with a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 2 singles. Bub sealed the team win with a 6-2, 6-3 victory at No. 1 singles. MOC also won the remaining four singles matches in straight sets.

Women's tennis

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive's Marine Becker and Francesca Ceppi each prevailed in singles, and provided the match-clinching points in a 8-1 rout of Conference Carolinas newcomer North Greenville (S.C.) University.

It was the Trojans' regular-season finale.

Becker and fellow seniors Patricia Guedes and Pietra Viana were recognized during senior day festivities prior to the match. Viana is the lone four-year senior among the trio.

MOC (18-4 overall, 9-2 CC) took an early 2-0 lead with matching 8-3 wins by Viana-Molly Lentini at No. 1 doubles and Ceppi-Samara Paldinho at No. 3 doubles. Becker-Guedes won 9-8 in a tie-breaker at the No. 2 flight to complete the doubles sweep.

Becker extended the Trojans' lead to 4-0 with a 6-1, 6-3 victory at No. 1 singles. Ceppi's overhead smash on match point finished a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 3 singles and sealed Mount Olive's 14th win in its last 16 matches.

Men's track

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Mount Olive senior Joey Murphy posted a pair of top-five finishes to lead the top-ranked Division II Southeast Region men's track and field team at the Chanticleer Classic at Coastal Carolina University.

Murphy placed second in the javelin competition with a distance of 50.68 meters. He then joined teammate Ryan Campbell among the leaders in the shot put. Murphy was fourth at 13.41, while Campbell was sixth at 12.52.

The Trojans also got top finishes from Devonte Jenkins, Decardo Cole and Nick MacAdam in the field events. Jenkins took second in the long jump at 6.96 meters. Cole tied for third in the high jump at 1.92. MacAdam was fourth in the triple jump at 13.21.