UMO: Digest

By UMO Media Relations
Published in Sports on February 23, 2017 9:57 AM

• Print
• Email

Men's volleyball

* MOUNT OLIVE -- University of Mount Olive fell from the unbeaten ranks on the Conference Carolinas men's volleyball scene after a 20-25, 14-25, 25-14, 13-25 loss to arch rival Barton on Wednesday evening.

The Trojans (9-5 overall) fell to 8-1 in league play this season.

Bret Rutledge paced a lethargic UMO attack with 14 kills. Josh Donahue emerged as the defensive leader with 14 digs.

Jeff Yasalonis handed out 31 assists in an offense that managed just a .183 hitting percentage against the Bulldogs -- the preseason favorites to win the conference title.

*

Baseball

* SALISBURY -- David Mayo and Alvin Swoope combined to swat three home runs during the University of Mount Olive's 19-5, non-conference loss to in-state foe Catawba on Wednesday afternoon.

Mayo slapped a solo home run in the fourth -- the Trojans' first run of the game. Swoope went "yard" with a pair of two-run shots in each of the seventh and ninth innings.

Swoope ended the day 2 for 4 with four RBI.

Braxton Shelley (0-2) endured the mound loss. He surrendered five runs on six hits and fanned four Catawba batters in two-plus innings.

The Trojans (7-4 overall) return home Friday for a three-game series against Conference Carolinas foe Emmanuel (Ga.).

*

Softball

* MOUNT OLIVE -- Perennial Peach Belt Conference power Francis Marion (SC) University swept University of Mount Olive, 3-1 and 4-0, in a non-conference doubleheader at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field on Wednesday afternoon.

The Trojans scored their lone run on a throwing error in the bottom of the first inning in the opener. The Patriots' pitching staff threw 13 consecutive shutout innings from that point.

UMO stranded eight runners on base in game one.

Charlene Thompson and Southern Wayne grad Kelsey Hayes each had a hit in the nightcap for the Trojans.

Mount Olive (8-8 overall) travels to Spartanburg, S.C., this weekend for non-conference games against St. Joseph's (Ind.), Wingate, Lenoir-Rhyne and Catawba.