Trojans enter series with Erskine as the underdogs

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on March 19, 2014 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

MOUNT OLIVE -- The University of Mount Olive baseball team doesn't enter too many Conference Carolinas contests as the underdog.

The Trojans will this weekend.

No. 23-ranked Erskine (S.C.) College brings one of the nation's top-hitting teams and pitching staffs to Scarborough Field for a pivotal three-game series. The teams play a single game Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday.

"It is a big series," UMO head coach Carl Lancaster said. "It could have a huge implication on who is going to be the regular-season winner in this league ... no question about it. (And) I think our guys understand the implication of what this series can mean down the road."

History favors Mount Olive. The Trojans have won nine straight against the Flying Fleet and lead the all-time series 53-11 since both teams entered the Division II era in 1996.

The baseball Gods certainly haven't shined on Lancaster's club this spring. The Trojans are an uncharacteristic 17-9 overall and have yet to find that mid-season spark that's been synonymous with previous teams.

Errors have opened the floodgates for the opposition. A pitching staff that normally induces a key double-player ground ball or records a crucial strikeout hasn't consistently risen to the occasion this season.

"You name it, it's happened to us," Lancaster said. "Things haven't come together lately like we hoped they would have, but we haven't given up yet. If we can get through this series with a couple of wins, maybe we can get on a roll."

The key is pitching.

Left-hander Gunner Kines missed last weekend's series against Limestone with the flu and is not 100 percent. Transfer Jordy Farthing is nursing a shoulder issue. Alex Regan, a returning All-American, continues to serve a lengthy suspension due to a violation of team rules.

Lancaster anticipates starting Kodi Whitley (3-0) in game one. The freshman right-hander has logged a 2.95 earned run average (ERA) and posted 24 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings of work. His chore is to hand cuff a Flying Fleet offense that hits .386 as a team and has five batters who average .388 or higher in the lineup.

Junior Logan Galliher ranks second in the conference with a .416 average and is fifth with 25 RBI. Senior Chase Corn hits .403 and has driven in 26 runs.

"I'm interested to see what he can do against a team like Erskine," Lancaster said. "If he can locate his stuff, he'll be fine. If not, they're going to hurt him. We've got to play good defense (all weekend) because they're going to hit the ball and put it in play."

Lancaster didn't unveil his three-game rotation, but he expects to call upon the bullpen to eat some innings. The Trojans have a team ERA of 4.28 -- third-best in the league.

Returning All-American Bradon Reitano leads the Mount Olive offense with a conference-best .430 average and 38 RBI. Jay Gonzalez hits .392 and slugger Justin Manning is batting .386. Rob Shipman and DeAndre Allen have 30 and 24 RBI, respectively.

"We have to get our guys on who can run and put some pressure on them defensively," said Lancaster, whose team has 76 stolen bases this season. "Clutch hitting with people in scoring position is important. We're going to have to score with them, make the plays we're supposed to make and we'll see what happens."