MOC enjoys historical outing in men's lacrosse

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on March 21, 2013 1:47 PM

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MOC

Sports Information

MOUNT OLIVE -- Goalie Rocky Bowman recorded a season-high 13 saves and Mount Olive College defeated Coker (S.C.) College, 15-5, for its first-ever Conference Carolinas men's lacrosse victory Wednesday evening.

The penalty-prone Trojans were at their best when they were a man down.

The Cobras had 13 man-up opportunities, but scored on just three "power plays" including shooting 1-for-10 in the second half. Coker trailed 4-2 during the early stages of the game and fell behind 8-3 at halftime.

Mount Olive (5-3 overall, 1-0 CC) rebuilt its lead with a dominating second period behind the play of Bowman. After picking up a save on a shot from Smith, Bowman launched a long pass to teammate Matt Shields, who raced the final 20 yards and buried the ball in the back of the net for a 5-2 lead.

Matt Shields finished with four goals in the contest. It was Bowman's first assist of the season.

Less than two minutes later, Cameron Walsh scored. After the Cobras retaliated with a goal, Nick Sanderson scored off a Blake Bennett assist. With just 45 seconds left in the half, Matt Shields added a third goal with an assist from brother Daniel Shields, who finished with two goals and two assists.

The second half belonged to the Trojans. Mount Olive outshot Coker 21-14 in the second half and owned a 7-2 advantage in goals scored.

Walsh finished with two goals as did Spencer Gelinas. Alex Tindall, Jake Duarte, Bennett, Sanderson and Matt Devoy added one apiece. Tindall joined Daniel Shields with two assists, while Bennett, Bowman, Duarte, Josh Schwartz and Walsh had one apiece.

MOC travels to Belmont Abbey on Saturday.

Softball

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive College slugged three home runs and Danielle Mitchell collected five hits overall during a non-conference sweep of Millersville (Pa.) University on the Nancy Chapman Cassell Field diamond Wednesday afternoon.

Christie Wright swatted a three-run home run as part of a nine-run, fourth-inning outburst during the Trojans' 14-1, mercy-rule victory in the opener. Jesse Crist and Jennifer Jones each belted a fourth-inning home run as Mount Olive claimed the nightcap, 5-0.

The Trojans extended their win streak to seven.

In the opener, Mount Olive (18-6 overall) took the lead for good in the bottom of the second inning. Lauren McGrath beat out an infield single and Savannah Becker followed with a two-out base hit.

Kassie Lowe sent a 3-2 pitch up the middle to drive in McGrath, which tied the game at 1-all. Danielle Mitchell reached on an infield error to load the bases and Beth Overman cleared the bases with a double to right center to give the Trojans a 4-1 lead.

Jennifer Jones scored a run in the third inning on a passed ball and Mount Olive broke the game open in the fourth. Becker drew a lead-off walk and scored on a throwing error after Lowe singled to left and Mitchell beat out a bunt single.

Mitchell stole second and the Trojans loaded the bases when Overman reached first on a passed ball on strike three. Moore then lined an opposite-field double to the right center-field fence to extend Mount Olive's lead to 9-1.

Carly White (8-2) earned the mound win, limiting the Marauders to four hits.

In the second game, Mount Olive collected four hits and loaded the bases in the bottom of the first, but had to settle for only one run on Jones' RBI single. That turned out to be all Smith would need.

Smith (4-3) overcame a one-out walk in the top of the first when Becker caught a fly ball in shallow center and doubled up the runner on first for the first of two double plays in the game for Mount Olive. Smith held the Marauders to just one hit through five innings before allowing singles to Jordan Sheffield and Ginely Ortiz-Marrero in the sixth.

The Trojan defense erased both baserunners.

Smith, who had a four-pitch second inning, retired the side in order on seven pitches in the seventh.

Mount Olive's bats gave Smith some breathing room when Crist led off with her second home run of the year. Moore drew a two-out walk and Jones followed with her fifth home run of the season to give the Trojans a 4-0 lead. Mount Olive added an unearned run in the sixth.

The Trojans play a pair of Conference Carolinas doubleheaders this weekend against Limestone (S.C.) College on Saturday and in-state foe Lees-McRae on Sunday. First pitch each day is 1 p.m.