Trojan baseball team suffers first loss in split with North Greenville

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on February 25, 2013 1:47 PM

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MOC Sports Information

MOUNT OLIVE - Geno Escalante homered and drove in four runs, and Zach Bernard picked up a save with two scoreless innings as nationally top-ranked held off North Greenville 7-4 in game one of a Conference Carolinas baseball doubleheader Sunday at Scarborough Field. The Trojans suffered their first loss of the year in game two, falling 6-4 in a game that was delayed 45 minutes during the seventh inning due to bulbs in the light fixtures going out.

In the first game, Mount Olive (12-1 overall, 1-1 Conference Carolinas) broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the second on Zak Orrison's two-out two-run double and Escalante capped the four-run inning with a two-run single. Escalante added an rbi-infield single in the fourth to give the Trojans a 5-0 lead.

Trojan starter Matt Dillon (2-0) struck out nine and held North Greenville to three hits through six shutout innings.

In the nightcap, scheduled for seven innings, North Greenville (4-6, 1-1) was three outs away from a win when light fixtures down the third base/left field line and behind the outfield fence in left field all went out. After a 32-minute delay, North Greenville reliever Allen Staton retired the first batter and was ahead 0-2 on the next batter when the light fixture behind the third base dugout went out again. After another delay of 13 minutes, Staton got a pair of flyouts to end the game.

Staton, who started the game playing second base, sparked North Greenville's offense with three doubles and four runs batted in. Staton's two-run double highlighted a three-run first inning and the Crusaders led wire-to-wire. Staton also had rbi-doubles in the third and fifth innings.

Mount Olive starter Alex Regan (3-1) suffered his first loss as a Trojan.

The three-game series was originally scheduled for this past Friday and Saturday, but was pushed back due to rain. Mount Olive and North Greenville conclude their series with a single nine-inning game Monday at 2:30 p.m.

Mens lacrosse

MOUNT OLIVE - Mount Olive turned a close game into a runaway as six different Trojans scored in a dominating third period. Mount Olive held off a late rally to post its second win, a 13-9 non-conference men's lacrosse triumph over Wingate University Sunday afternoon at Amon Field.

Mount Olive outshot Wingate 36-23 for the contest, including 14-4 in the decisive third period. The Trojans also held a 43-26 advantage in ground balls.

Womens basketball

GAFFNEY, S.C. - Mount Olive guard Jasmine McDonald recorded a season-high 15 rebounds to go along with 10 points, but the Trojans could not overcome poor shooting in a 73-51 Conference Carolinas women's basketball setback at nationally 10th-ranked Limestone Saturday night in Gaffney, S.C.

The Trojans (15-9 overall, 11-9 CC) stayed within arm's length of the host Saints (22-2, 19-1) throughout the first half, but 24-percent shooting and nine turnovers allowed Limestone to take a 30-18 lead at intermission.

Mens basketball

GAFFNEY, S.C. - Mount Olive fell behind by 15 points early in the second half and never got closer than seven the rest of the way as the Trojans fell to Limestone 82-68 in Conference Carolinas men's basketball Saturday at Gaffney, S.C. Jordan McCain hit 8-of-8 free throws and led four Trojans in double figures with 17 points.

Mount Olive plays its first home game in nearly two weeks and celebrates senior night as the Trojans play host to Pfeiffer in Conference Carolinas action Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Kornegay Arena.

Mens track and field

MOUNT OLIVE - Dylan Lafond posted an NCAA Division II men's indoor track and field provisional qualifying time in the mile run and teamed with Aki Kitagawa, Joaquim Cotano-Lezcano and Cameron Turner for a provisional qualifying time in the distance medley relay as the four runners represented Mount Olive at the George Mason University Last Chance Meet Sunday at Fairfax, Va.

As provisional qualifiers, the Trojan runners posted the minimum required times to qualify for the NCAA Division II Men's Indoor Track and Field Championship, but are not guaranteed berths in the championship.