D2 SE REGIONAL -- Tusculum knocks out UMO

By UMO Media Relations
Published in Sports on May 23, 2016 1:48 PM

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UMO Media Relations

COLUMBUS, GA. -- The run is complete.

University of Mount Olive, seeking to battle its way through consolation-bracket play and add another thrilling chapter to its appearance at the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional, fell to fifth-seeded Tusculum (Tenn.) College, 3-2 on Sunday afternoon.

The Trojans, who lost Thursday's opening-round matchup to Lander University, stormed through the consolation pool over a frenetic weekend with dramatic wins over 2015 NCAA runner-up Catawba and top-seeded Columbus State.

A third such victory, however, was not to be.

The Pioneers (38-17) jumped ahead quickly on a two-run homer by right fielder Kevin Victoriano, then piled on another in the third after Dario Santangelo walked Jeovanny Tolantino with the bases loaded.

It would be all the scoring required by Tusculum.

Pioneers' starter Christian Raasch was rock-solid on the hill, allowing just two runs on six hits in 72/3 innings of work. The win, his eighth of the season, included four strikeouts.

But UMO, per its recent form, refused to go quietly.

The Trojans rallied in the eighth when David Mayo singled and stole second base to begin the inning. He later scored on an RBI from Ricky Surum, trimming the Tusculum advantage to 3-1.

Following Zak Orrison's RBI single to right field, the possibility of another Trojan comeback was alive and well. Any hope of its realization, however, was silenced by Pioneers' relief man Devan Watts.

His strikeout-heavy, 15-pitch effort stunted the UMO cause and preserved the win for Tusculum.

UMO finished the 2015-2016 campaign with a 33-21 overall record, which included its 13th Conference Carolinas championship and seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

Following the loss, UMO skipper Carl Lancaster was pensive.

"We have been through a lot of turmoil this year. At the end of the year, this group started to play like a family out there," the longtime coach said. "We did something pretty special despite what we went through. I couldn't be more proud of this group. No one gave us a chance coming into the regional and we proved them wrong."