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March 28, 2024 5:29 pm

Trojans win series at Flagler

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla.  – Junior Hayden Myrick and senior Blake Gipson combined for 5.2 innings of scoreless relief, as the Trojans cruised past Flagler by a 10-5 margin to clinch the rubber match and win the series on March 5.

With the win, the University of Mount Olive baseball team improved to 12-4.

The Trojans totaled 10 runs on 15 hits in the win while featuring five players with multi-hit performances on Sunday. Junior Alden Cottle finished 2 for 4 with three runs scored and one walk, while teammate Vito Patierno also went 2 for 4 with one run scored at the plate. Sophomore Cooper George registered a pair of hits with one run scored and junior Mike Kenney finished 2 for 3 with two runs scored. Fellow junior Dylan Jefferies recorded two hits, one run scored and two walks against the Saints.

In the top of the first, Mount Olive established a 2-0 advantage with a two-run homer by Jones, his team-leading third of the year. After an inning-ending double play in the bottom half, the Trojans tallied two runs on two hits to stretch the lead to 4-0. Cottle crossed the plate on a wild pitch before senior J.T. Stone posted an RBI on a bases-loaded walk. The Saints cut the deficit to 4-1 in the bottom of the second before UMO brought two more runs across in the top of the third off throwing errors, 6-1. Flagler closed the gap to 6-4 in the bottom of the frame with a two-run single through the left side and an RBI off a groundout. The Saints ultimately trimmed the deficit to 6-5 in the fourth on a sacrifice fly down the left-field line.

After three scoreless innings, the Trojans broke the contest open with four runs in the final two innings. Jeffries scored in the eighth on a wild pitch before Mount Olive scored three times in the ninth. Graduate student Landon Choboy laced an RBI single to center field to take an 8-5 advantage before senior Gordon Pihl belted a two-run homer down the left-field line to extend the lead, 10-5.

Myrick earned his first win (1-0) of the season after tossing 2.2 scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts and one walk on Sunday. B. Gipson registered his second save of the year after pitching the final 3 innings with zero runs surrendered off one hit.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics