COLLEGE BASEBALL: Trojans complete sweep of No. 11 Lander

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 6, 2017 9:59 AM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

MOUNT OLIVE -- University of Mount Olive completed a "statement weekend" with a three-game sweep over reigning Southeast Regional champion Lander (S.C.) University on Sunday afternoon.

And the Trojans -- finally -- flexed their muscle at the plate.

Ricky Surum and Ben Conner each swatted a home run as part of UMO's 14-hit barrage against six Bearcat hurlers. Ricky Surum (4-for-4) and Ben Conner (2-for-2) each swatted a home run and combined for six RBI.

UMO collected nine total hits during Saturday's twinbill.

"We swung the bat a little bit better," Trojans head coach Carl Lancaster said. "The further you go down in pitching, the better the swinging. We had a good weekend."

Seven Trojans collected at least one hit against the Bearcats, who entered the series ranked No. 11 in the Collegiate Baseball Magazine top 40 preseason poll.

Garner native Brighton Hudson tossed six innings of five-hit, five-strikeout ball. Lander managed to push across two earned runs in the third inning, which endeda string of 18 scoreless innings against a dominating UMO pitching staff.

Jesse Schullstrom and Zach Verrano combined for three innings of no-hit, five-strikeout relief.

"We really pitched it well, honestly," Lancaster said. "Our arms were really impressive. They had a bunch of new kids. They were pretty athletic, but they were free swingers. We found their weaknesses. They didn't make any adjustments and we kept going after them."

Mount Olive built an 8-0 lead after four innings.

The Trojans cranked out eight extra-base hits and plated 11 earned runs. Surum, Conner and Carson McCurdy combined for 10 RBI.

UMO (3-0 overall) hits the road next weekend for contests against Florida Southern and 2016 South Region runner-up Delta State. Both teams garnered preseason poll recognition from Collegiate Baseball and the National College Baseball Writers Association.