Trojan baseball rolls, softball earns split

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on February 18, 2008 2:26 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Michael Williams pitched seven scoreless innings, while Josh Harrison and Alex Vertcnik combined for RBI as No. 2-ranked Mount Olive hammered Shippensburg (Pa.) University 13-0 in game one of their doubleheader.

In game two, Casey Hodges threw a six-inning shutout as the Trojans prevailed 5-0.

Mount Olive (12-1 overall) completed a four-game sweep of the Raiders and extended its win streak to 10 games.

The Trojans grabbed a quick lead in the opener when Harrison delivered a two-out, two-RBI single in a four-run, first-inning uprising. Vertcnik, who supplied the game's first RBI, added a two-RBI base hit in the bottom of the second.

Harrison singled in a run in a two-run fifth inning, then keyed a five-run sixth inning with a two-run triple. Vertcnik brought home a run in the sixth with a sacrifice fly. Harrison finished with five RBI, while Vertcnik had four. Harrison and David Cooper paced Mount Olive's 19-hit attack with three hits apiece.

Williams (2-0) scattered eight hits, all singles. He struck out one and did not allow a walk. Thomas Newsome gave up a single in the eighth and retired the side in order in the ninth.

In the nightcap, Cooper pounded out a lead-off double in the first inning and advanced to third on Dylan Holton's sacrifice. He scored on Vertcnik's sacrifice fly. Mount Olive added a run in the second and gave itself some breathing room with a three-run fifth inning, highlighted by Holton's RBI triple.

Holton scored on a single by Vertcnik.

Hodges (1-0) struck out four and allowed five hits to pick up his first win of the season after two no-decisions. Patrick Ball struck out two batters in the seventh to seal the win. None of the four Trojan pitchers allowed a walk Sunday.

Mount Olive entertains Shaw University on Thursday.

Softball

MOUNT OLIVE -- Anna Turvin tossed a six-hit shutout and Karen Thornton delivered a two-RBI, second-inning single as Mount Olive blanked Lander (S.C.) University 3-0 during game one of their non-conference doubleheader Sunday afternoon.

Lander claimed the second game, 3-0.

In game one, the Trojans (2-2 overall) loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the second on walks to Aubrey Reinhard and Sam Degraves, and a single by Allison Czerski. Thornton then sent a 3-2 pitch up the middle, scoring Reinhard and Degraves to give the Trojans a 2-0 lead.

Kelly Minshew led off the bottom of the third with a double off the left-field fence, advanced to third on Jazzmine Lee's sacrifice and scored on an error.

That would be all the run support Turvin (2-0) would need as she extended her scoreless streak to 12 consecutive innings. Turvin struck out three and walked none.

In the second game, Mount Olive loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the second on walks to Reinhard and Courtney Wallace sandwiched around a check swing single by Bailey Harrell. But Lander pitcher Jenna Kellett (1-4) escaped on an infield pop-up and a fly out to left.

Trojan starter Jenny Jackson (0-2) held Lander hitless until Daisy Stewart singled after Hudson drew a one-out walk. Haley Foster followed with a double to bring in the first run. After Jackson got the second out on a pop-up to second, Smith lined a single to center to bring in two more runs.

The three-run outburst ended Jackson's streak of 35 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.

Mount Olive is the guest of N.C. Central on Wednesday.