MOC wins series at AASU

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on February 3, 2009 1:46 PM

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MOC

Sports Information

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Montoya Young and Alex Vertcnik collected three RBI apiece as No. 1-ranked Mount Olive stopped Armstrong Atlantic State 9-0 in a 51/2-inning affair Monday afternoon.

Ryan Kussmaul yielded one hit in four scoreless innings and JUCO transfer T.J. Hinson threw the fifth inning for the Trojans, who improved to 2-1 overall this season.

Officials called the game due to wet grounds.

Kussmaul, in his first start, worked through a bases-loaded jam in the Pirates' half of the first inning. He walked the first two batters he faced and after a sacrifice, loaded the bases with another walk.

But the Trojans turned an inning-ending, 6-4-3 double play to escape further trouble.

Kussmaul retired nine of the final 10 batters he faced and gave up a pinch-hit, lead-off single to Josh Heath in the third. Kussmaul finished with four strikeouts.

Hinson, who starred at Lenoir Community College, surrendered a fifth-inning single before the game was called. Armstrong Atlantic State (1-2) never got a runner past second base after the first inning.

Mount Olive broke a scoreless tie after loading the bases in the top of the second. Rich Racobaldo led off with a double and went to third one out later on Jonathan Smith's infield single. Kyle Hinrichs drew a two-out walk and Kevin Kearney walked to bring in the first run of the game.

Young cleared the bases with a three-RBI double down the left field line.

Jesse Lancaster's lead-off triple keyed a three-run third inning for the Trojans. After Lancaster scored on Vertcnik's ground out, Racobaldo walked and stole second. Will Rodriguez drove Racobaldo home with a double and eventually scored on Smith's RBI ground out to extend Mount Olive's lead to 7-0.

Hinrichs led off the fourth with a single and Young reached on an error. After Lancaster grounded out to advance the runners to second and third, Vertcnik singled up the middle to drive in both runners and close out the scoring.

Mount Olive returns to action this weekend at in-state member Lenoir-Rhyne. The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday and a single game on Sunday.