COLLEGE BASEBALL: UMO will host D-II Southeast Regional

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 15, 2017 9:59 AM

• Print
• Email

MOUNT OLIVE -- There's no place like home.

University of Mount Olive, for the first time since 2013, has been selected to host the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional.

The Trojans (47-8 overall) drew the No. 1 seed for the seven-team, double-elimination tournament which begins Thursday morning at Scarborough Field. UMO is making its eighth straight postseason appearance and 16th overall.

Single-game tickets are $10.

An all-session pass for all fans is $35.

In-state rivals UNC Pembroke (40-15) and Catawba (37-15) launch regional action at 11 a.m. Thursday. Game two is South Atlantic champ Lincoln Memorial (33-17) against North Georgia (42-10). Peach Belt foes Georgia College (35-13) and USC Aiken (39-13) cap the opening-day action.

UMO plays Friday at 3 p.m.

The double-elimination tournament concludes Sunday with the winner advancing to the College World Series in Grand Prairie, Texas.

The Trojans are seeking their first CWS trip since 2011.

"I think we've got a chance in the four years I've been here," said UMO senior pitcher Kodi Whitley. "We have to play as a team, have timely hitting and we're going to have to pitch. There's a lot of good teams coming into this regional.

"No matter who we play, they're going to be a tough team...no easy rides any more. It's going to be good baseball."

UMO almost didn't make it to the regional.

Pfeiffer University upset the top-seeded Trojans on day one of the Conference Carolinas tournament. UMO reeled off five consecutive wins to clinch the automatic bid to the regional.

Zack Mozingo received the MVP award. The senior from Goldsboro drew all-CC tournament recognition along with Austin Hutchinson, German Reyes, Trae Sweeting and Drew Ellis.