D2 SE REGIONAL: Trojans drop rain-delayed opener to Lander (SC)

By UMO Media Relations
Published in Sports on May 20, 2016 1:48 PM

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UMO Media Relations

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- John Mangum's seventh-inning home run and Matt White's bases-clearing double sparked seventh-seeded Lander (S.C.) University to a 6-4, rain-delayed victory over University of Mount Olive in opening-round play of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional on Thursday evening.

The seventh-seeded Trojans (31-20 overall) faced 2015 national runner-up Catawba in an elimination-round game this morning.

White belted a two-run home run to push Lander in front 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning. UMO answered with Joe Koehler's solo shot over the right center-field wall in the top half of the fifth.

Rain and lighting suspended play in the bottom of the sixth.

The teams returned to the diamond four hours later and the Bearcats (39-14) took command on Mangum's yard-clearing blast and White's back-breaking twin-bagger.

The Trojans closed the gap to 6-4 in the eighth.

Zak Orrison was hit by a pitch and Jack Sherrill drew a walk. Orrison took third on a flyout, which put runners on the corners. Stephen Wallace deposited a bases-clearing home run over the left-field fence.

Lander gave up a ninth-inning single to Derek Deler, but closed the door on UMO, which dropped its third consecutive regional outing. The Trojans ended their 2015 regional appearance with back-to-back losses to Catawba and North Georgia that each ended with a walk-off home run.

Sherrill, Brett Lang, Wallace, Koehler, Bradley Ragan and Deler each managed one hit for Mount Olive. Wallace and Koehler combined for four RBI.

Bruce Zimmerman started and worked 5 2/3 innings before Mother Nature interrupted his two-hit, nine-strikeout outing. The left-hander endured the loss -- his third of the season in 12 decisions.

Brighton Hudson took the hill when play resumed and yielded two earned runs on two hits in one inning. Jesse Schullstrom allowed two earned runs on two walks and no hits. Dario Santangelo tossed 1 1/3 innings of one-hit, two-strikeout relief.