No. 1-ranked Trojans rally in ninth, stay unbeaten

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on February 11, 2013 1:47 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Collin DuBose emerged victorious in his collegiate debut and No. 1-ranked Mount Olive pushed across four runs during its final at-bat to cap a come-from-behind, 6-5 triumph over Newberry (S.C.) on Sunday afternoon.

The Trojans remained unbeaten in six outings this season and head coach Carl Lancaster picked up career win No. 897. MOC improved to 28-3 against the Wolves and have swept eight of the 11 series the teams have played since 1997.

Trailing 5-2, Tyler Farmer drew a lead-off walk to start the MOC ninth. Will Bynum and Zac Orrison juiced the bases with back-to-back singles. Newberry reliever Cole Cromer issued an RBI walk to Mike Mercurio and Matt Patrone followed with a two-run base knock.

Patrone got thrown out trying to advance to second on the play, but he moved the game-winning run to third base with one out. Cromer intentionally walked Geno Escalante and Newberry brought Matt Chapman out of the bullpen.

Chapman tried to pick off the runner at first, but his throw sailed past the bag and Orrison walked home to cap the stirring rally.

DuBose, the fourth MOC pitcher of the day, wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth. The freshman recorded an inning-ending strikeout after bullpen mates Chris Orphanos and Josh Frederick struggled to keep the Wolves off the bases.

The Trojans' Derek Justice permitted one run on four hits, but issued four walks.

Mount Olive knotted the game at 2-2 on Orrison's two-out, two-RBI single in the bottom of the fifth. Newberry (4-5) gave starting pitcher Jon Rosenberger a two-run cushion with a two-run, sixth-inning outburst.