UMO baseball takes twinbill from Pfeiffer U

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on February 27, 2016 11:09 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Just get one RBI.

University of Mount Olive first baseman Joe Koehler stepped up to bat and thought he might bring just one runner home -- not three.

Koehler swung and knocked the ball over the right-field fence as UMO jumped to a 5-1 lead and an eventual 9-8 victory over Conference Carolinas rival Pfeiffer University during game one of their doubleheader Saturday.

"Coming up there, all the bases loaded, one out, I just tried to put a good swing on the ball. Get at least one RBI," Koehler laughed. "The one swing turned into four RBIs."

Infielder Jack Sherrill stole home in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 1-all against the Falcons. Koehler's second home run of the season came shortly after, but Pfeiffer answered with three runs to reach within one point in the sixth inning.

UMO's defense stepped up.

Early in the eighth inning, shortstop Ricky Surum dove to the ground and caught a ball hit by Pfeiffer's Zack Scudder.

The Trojans entered the bottom of the eighth still leading by one run until infeilder Derek Deler bunted, and catcher Brett Lang and Koehler rounded the bases to home. UMO scored two more times to make it 9-4 going into the ninth inning.

The Falcons wouldn't walk away.

Damon Smith and Ryne Stanley ran home to get within three runs of the Trojans. Brandall Peters sprinted home after Dylan Goodman hit a single to left field. Pinch-hitter Austin Fox scored off of a line drive to center field from Jordan Eckard.

Pfeiffer trailed 9-8.

Eckard ran to second base after UMO's catcher lost the ball, but Sherrill tagged Eckard at second base to end the game.

Koehler ended the game with two runs and four RBI. Surum recorded one run and one RBI, while infielder Alvin Swoop collected seven assists defensively.

Though Koehler lifted his team to a win in the first game, pitcher Austin Hutchison threw the Trojans to a 3-1 victory over Pfeiffer in the second game.

"I got my time to wait around and see how these guys (Falcons) played in the first game," Hutchison said, who had eight strikeouts against Pfeiffer. "Of course in my mindset, I didn't think they (Falcons) were going to hit it, but eventually things happened. I felt like when it did happen, I just told myself I wouldn't have it."

Koehler's hit to right field scored Zak Orrison. Koehler also scored to make it 2-0.

Scudder knocked one to the right field, sending Derek Perry home.

The Falcons trailed by a run, but Surum hit a line drive to center field, and outfielder Duke Hill scored for the Trojans in the fourth inning.

Pfeiffer never responded.

Koehler had one RBI and four putouts. Lang ended the game with nine putouts.

"That (Koehler's home run) was huge for us," UMO head coach Carl Lancaster said. "We really didn't swing the bat very well in game one. He (Koehler) then brought one in there and he got all of us. That was the difference in the ball game.

"Hutchison threw great in relief in game one. Kind of kept them (Falcons) at bay for a couple of innings. And Hutchison in game two after the first game, it was just lights out for those guys (Falcons). He totally domintated that lineup after the first inning."