Trojans complete 3-game sweep of Crusaders

By UMO Sports Information
Published in Sports on April 12, 2014 11:32 PM

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UMO Sports Information

MOUNT OLIVE -- DeAndre Allen's sacrifice fly led to the game-winning run and No. 25-ranked University of Mount Olive completed a Conference Carolinas weekend sweep of in-state foe Belmont Abbey at Scarborough Field.

Allen's one-out fly ball to left field scored Bradon Reitano, which eventually counted as the Trojans' game-winning run in their second consecutive 6-5 victory over the Crusaders on senior day. UMO opened the best-of-three series with a 6-3 victory Friday evening.

The Trojans (33-11 overall, 16-2 CC) maintained their two-game advantage over Erskine conference play. The Crusaders (17-26) compiled a 7-14 worksheet against league opposition this season.

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Belmont Abbey led 5-0 after 31/2 innings in game three.

Rob Shipman stroked a two-run home run to right field, which scored Reitano in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Trojans added a single run in the fifth, and tied the game in the seventh on a Belmont Abbey throwing error and Jay Gonzalez's infield single.

In the UMO eighth, Reitano drew a four-pitch walk and Shipman got plunked. Justin Manning sacrificed both runners up a bag and the Crusaders' Logan Redmond intentionally walked Luke Barry.

Reitano trotted home on Allen's sac fly to left field.

Gonzalez and Zak Orrison combined for four of Mount Olive's eight hits against three Belmont Abbey pitchers. Jordy Farthing (6-0) tossed two innings of no-hit, scoreless relief to keep the Trojans' 16-game win streak intact.

Redmond took the loss.

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In the opener, Mount Olive held a 4-0 lead through five innings before Belmont Abbey climbed to within 4-3 with a three-run, sixth-inning outburst.

The Trojans answered during their next at-bat.

Cody Britt connected on an RBI single to left field and Orrison's sac fly plated Allen, who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning.

The Crusaders closed to within 6-5 in the seventh. However, the Trojans gunned down the game-tying run at the plate to the end the game.

Derek Justice notched his seventh decision on the bump for UMO. The senior permitted five earned runs on five hits and five walks. Brody McDonald threw a scoreless seventh for his second save of the season.

Barry (two RBI) led the Trojans' offense with two hits.

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Mount Olive erupted for five fifth-inning runs and overcame three errors in Friday's series-opening game.

Shipman cranked out a two-RBI single, Manning provided an RBI single and Barry capped the outburst with a two-RBI triple to center field. Shipman ended the night 2-for-4 with three RBI.

Freshman Kodi Whitley emerged as the winning pitcher. He fanned seven Belmont Abbey batters and surrendered one earned run on five hits in six innings.

Hunter Barnett threw 11/3 innings of two-strikeout relief. Zach Bernard logged his third save of the season with 12/3 innings of three-strikeout relief.

The Trojans conclude the home portion of their schedule Monday against CIAA member Virginia State University. First pitch is 3:30 p.m. at Scarborough Field.