No. 12 UMO splits doubleheader versus Emmanuel

MOUNT OLIVE – The No. 12 Trojans split a pair of one-run games on Feb. 18 in a doubleheader split against Emmanuel in conference action, falling by a 5-2 margin in game one before earning a walk-off 2-1 victory in game two.

With the split, the University of Mount Olive baseball team sits at 4-2 overall with a 1-1 record in league play. Meanwhile, Emmanuel moved to 6-5 this season behind a 1-1 mark in conference action.

In game two, the Trojans left the bases loaded in the second inning before stranding a pair of runners in the third. In the top of the fourth, the Lions got on the board with an RBI single down the left-field line to take a 1-0 advantage. Mount Olive responded in the bottom half with an RBI single to left field from senior Joshua Jones to knot the contest at 1-1.

The game would eventually head to extra innings and the Trojans were able to capitalize in the bottom of the ninth. After a pair of walks to start the frame, Jones laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners into scoring position. Emmanuel decided to intentionally walk the next batter before junior Alden Cottle delivered a walk-off RBI single to left field to win the game, 2-1.

Senior Erik Johnson received a no-decision after scattering four hits with one run earned and five strikeouts over eight innings pitched. Junior Justin Koehler earned the win (1-0) after tossing an inning of scoreless relief after yielding zero hits.

Jones finished two for four with one RBI, while Cottle went two for five with one RBI.

In game one, the Lions loaded the bases in the top of the third inning following a throwing error, a walk and a hit-by-pitch. With one out, Emmanuel singled down the right-field line to score a pair of runners before an RBI groundout to the first baseman extended the lead to 3-0. The Trojans got a run back in the bottom of the third following a fielder’s choice by Jones to cut the deficit to 3-1.

In the top of fifth, the Lions stretched the advantage to 5-1 after scoring a pair of runs while UMO was held scoreless in the following two frames. The Trojans rallied in the top of bottom of the seventh after the initial three batters of the inning all reached base. With one out, Jones delivered a groundout to the shortstop to close the gap to 4-2 before a pinch-hit double from graduate student Landon Choboy down the left-field line made it a one-run game. Mount Olive stranded the game-tying run on second base in the eighth and ninth frames to fall by a 5-4 margin.

Senior Caleb Irwin was saddled with the loss (1-1) after yielding five runs on four hits with five strikeouts and two walks over eight innings pitched. Junior Hayden Myrick also tossed one inning of scoreless relief with zero hits surrendered. Cottle, senior Jack Casbarro and sophomore Cooper George all registered multi-hit games in the loss.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics