UMO bats heat up on cool winter day

By Cam Ellis
Published in Sports on February 11, 2015 1:48 PM

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cellis@newsargus.com

MOUNT OLIVE -- About the only thing hot at Scarborough Field on Tuesday afternoon were the University of Mount Olive bats.

With a wind chill in the low 20s and 20 fans (optimistically estimated), the nationally-ranked Trojans pounded out an impressive 18-5 victory over Virginia State University. The game was called after seven innings due to inclement weather and the mercy rule.

UMO had 21 hits on the day.

Lead-off batter Jason Morozowski hit two home runs, batted 4-for-5 and had four RBI. Kilgore Gailmard (3 for 5, RBI) and Chris Leduc (1 for 3, three RBI) also went yard for the Trojans.

Aggressive all afternoon, UMO batters consistently took swings early in the pitching count. VSU starter Nathan Anger gave up a first-inning run and eight more in the second. He didn't make it out of the second inning and allowed 10 runs on 12 hits, including a pair of home runs.

"After this weekend, coach had us out here early making sure we would stick to our approach," Morozowski said. "They had to play in this bad weather, too, so we couldn't use that as an excuse. We just went to work, and it took off from there."

The Trojans scored in double digits for the fourth time this season.

"Overall, I thought we hit the ball really well," UMO head coach Carl Lancaster said. "We had some balls that got up in the air that ended up going out of the ballpark because [the wind] blew them out.

"We didn't do anything spectacular, we just hit solid some balls on a line early on. I was pleased with the way we tried to drive the baseball."

Carlos Rodriguez got the start on the mound for Mount Olive. The junior from Hawaii started the game strong, allowing only one run on one hit through the first four innings. He unraveled a bit in the fifth, however, allowing a three-run home run to shortstop Nick Christopher.

Rodriguez earned the win, though, finishing with five runs allowed on four hits, five walks and three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. Lancaster was pleased with his pitcher's effort.

"The biggest thing today was that I was glad to see Carlos get out there," he said. "It was obvious that he got very tired -- he got himself up to 80 pitches. He's got some command issues, but early on he settled in and threw the ball pretty good."

UMO plays 11 of its next 13 games on the road.

"We're going there like this is the World Series," Mozorowski said. "This is a big weekend, a statement weekend for us. I don't think Florida Southern knows what's coming."