UMO baseball wins another Conference Carolinas regular-season crown

By UMO Media Relations
Published in Sports on April 18, 2015 11:06 PM

• Print
• Email

UMO Media Relations

BELMONT -- Zak Orrison's lead-off walk began a stretch of six consecutive base-on-balls as No. 12-ranked University of Mount Olive avoided a three-game sweep with a 22-2 victory over Conference Carolinas foe Belmont Abbey on Saturday afternoon.

The Trojans (35-12 overall, 19-7 CC) clinched the regular-season championship and No. 1 seed for the league tournament, which begins Thursday in Burlington.

UMO scored its first two runs on bases-loaded RBI walks. Grant Tyndall cleared the bases with a three-RBI double to left field. The Crusaders (23-20, 16-11) got one run back in the third inning.

However, the Trojans countered by scoring at least two runs each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Joe Koehler belted two home runs, including a grand slam later in the game.

Stephen Wallace and Joe Morozowski combined to plate three more runs for Mount Olive. The Trojans cranked out 19 hits against Belmont Abbey, which used four pitchers.

Kodi Whitley (8-3) surrendered one run on three hits and logged six strikeouts during a six-inning stint for UMO. Jose Serrano threw the seventh, freshman Brighton Hudson tossed the eighth and Dario Santangelo closed the door on Abbey in the ninth.

The Crusaders took the first two games of the series 10-7 and 4-2. The losses reduced Mount Olive's advantage over Erskine to one-half game heading into the regular-season finale.

After the conference tournament and final exams, the Trojans return home May 4 to face in-state foe Catawba College. First pitch is 5 p.m. at Scarborough Field.

Softball

MOUNT OLIVE -- University of Mount Olive re-wrote a pair of regular-season school records during a doubleheader sweep -- 8-1 and 6-0 -- against Conference Carolinas newcomer Emmanuel (Ga.) College on Saturday afternoon.

Taylor Carter is the new single-season, stolen-base thief with 27, which broke the previous program mark (26) set by Jennifer Ellis 1996.

The Trojans also set a team record with 131 swipes.

Lauren Smith worked five innings inside the circle in the opener. She permitted one run on eight hits and retired five Emmanuel batters on strikeouts.

Madison Johnston (15-3) threw a four-hit shutout in the nightcap.

Mount Olive (28-16 overall, 13-5 CC) concludes regular-season play today at Limestone.

Men's volleyball

MOUNT OLIVE -- Peyton Schirman served five aces and cranked out nine kills during University of Mount Olive's 25-16, 25-19, 25-17 conquest of in-state foe Belmont Abbey in quarterfinal-round play of the 2015 Conference Carolinas tournament.

The third-seeded Trojans (15-10 overall) face either Erskine or Barton in semifinal-round play Tuesday. The tournament advances to the newly-expanded six-team NCAA national championships.

Bret Rutledge emerged as UMO's top offensive performer with 13 kills. Tyler Yanez dished out 35 assists and collected four digs defensively. Libero Josh Donahue recorded 15 digs.

Men's lacrosse

FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. -- Jacob Ball and Vincent Cardella combined for eight goals as No. 15-ranked University of Mount Olive throttled Conference Carolinas foe Emmanuel (Ga.) College, 18-6 on Saturday afternoon.

The Trojans (12-4 overall, 4-2 CC) scored four or more goals in the first three periods, and assured themselves of the No. 3 seed for the upcoming conference tournament.

Matt Shields and Clayton Warren contributed two goals apiece. Alex Tindall, Gabe Girgus and Tyler Feniello each provided one assist.

UMO owned advantages in shots (56-24), ground balls (35-15) and face-offs (22-6). Feniello won 14 face-offs.

Ross Bowman and Will Urban combined 10 saves between the pipes.

Women's lacrosse

BANNER ELK -- Claire Wigler punched in a team- and game-high six goals as No. 13-ranked University of Mount Olive defeated Lees-McRae, 23-3, in the Conference Carolinas regular-season finale for both teams Saturday afternoon.

Riann Daziel and Katie McGovern supplied four goals apiece. Alanna Bauche and Alysa Kulka each dropped in three goals. Alexus Milus and Kali Cook-Grisewood combined for three goals.

The Trojans (13-3 overall, 7-1 CC) out-shot the Bobcats 41-11, won 22 of 26 midfield draws and picked up 23 ground balls. UMO keeper Hannah recorded five saves.