COLLEGE BASEBALL: Green 'Mo'-Chine

By Ben Coley
Published in Sports on April 27, 2017 10:10 AM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- If it's the ninth inning and a slim lead is at stake, there may be no better saving grace in Division II than the University of Mount Olive's Zack Mozingo.

He rifles a fastball that comfortably sits in the mid to low 90s, and slings a slider that batters chase like a dog after a pick-up truck.

Combine that with an intense stare that melts the face of his opponents, and you have a bonafide closer who is currently tied for the most saves (12) in the nation.

Though he has found success in what will be his only year at UMO, it wasn't always like this for Mozingo. There was a journey involved, and it wasn't the smoothest walk in the world.

"I'd say I've been through a lot of adversity," said Mozingo, a 2012 graduate of Eastern Wayne. "I've had to work through a lot of stuff that a lot of people haven't."

Those obstacles began while on the campus of Pitt Community College.

Mozingo enjoyed a satisfactory freshman season with the Bulldogs by tallying four home runs and a .301 batting average in almost 40 games.

The first letdown came when he needed Tommy John surgery. The injury kept him sidelined the entire 2014 season and put his budding career on hold.

"It was rough," Mozingo said. "I had to go to practice and be around the team, but know I couldn't play and do too much at practice after doing it for 12 to 15 years of my life. It was different."

But Mozingo returned in 2015 and raised his game to another level.

He ranked second on the team in batting average (.365) and tied for the team lead in RBI (26). He also started five games as a hurler, struck out 27 batters and walked seven in 281/3 innings.

The resurgence was noticed by East Carolina, and Mozingo soon made his way to Greenville. That's when the second hurdle appeared.

In the 2016 season, Mozingo played in 32 games and posted a .243 batting average. He recorded five outs as a reliever, and slipped to a 5.40 earned run average (ERA). Those numbers weren't acceptable to Mozingo.

With one year of eligibility burning a hole in his pocket, Mozingo felt he had to do what was best for him. He decided to spend it on a school that's a perennial D-II powerhouse and a possible avenue toward a MLB draft pick.

"It was pretty much a no-brainer," said UMO head coach Carl Lancaster. "He didn't get the time he needed over (at ECU) in a little more high-pressured environment. This suited him well. He talks like a surfer. He's a pretty laid-back kid with the energy when he steps between the lines."

Since UMO already had a firm starting rotation, Lancaster decided to give Mozingo the role of closer -- a position he felt needed more strength.

It has served as Mozingo's biggest pitching position since playing in college. He left EW as a highly-regarded pitcher, but only had 15 appearances in two years at Pitt and only three in his lone season at ECU.

"I expected him to have the best season he's ever had in baseball," Lancaster said. "...We have a more relaxed atmosphere. We felt all along that he was going to thrive in our environment and do exactly what he's done."

In 271/3 innings, the Trojans' star has struck out 45 batters and has given up only three runs and five walks. That's good for two wins and a 0.99 ERA.

As a batter, he's hitting .318 with 11 home runs and 38 RBI. Mozingo has provided a crucial role for a Mount Olive team that boasts a 42-7 record, a Conference Carolinas regular season title and a No. 1 ranking.

"I just know I've put in a lot of work in the offseason, and the team has too," Mozingo said. "We've all worked really hard in the offseason to get where we are today, and I feel like that has a lot do to with it. Just the work you put in to be where you are."

Today, Mount Olive starts its quest for a tournament title by battling sixth-seeded Pfeiffer University in Burlington. Soon after that, the push for a national championship will be underway.

Throughout the Trojans' dominant campaign, Mozingo has found his niche. It's just as Lancaster predicted.

His career may not have started exactly how he planned, but now he's emphatically ending his collegiate career by -- well, simply put -- closing the door on his opponents.

"It almost maybe gives me a chip on my shoulder that I have to play with," said Mozingo, regarding his past. "Because I know what I was capable of and what I had to come back through to be able to prove myself again."