Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 by Kevin Buczek
WILSON, N.C.-Junior JT Bunce hit a solo home run in the first game while freshman Andrew Webster and junior Avery Harper each drove in a run in the second game to highlight play for host Barton College in a doubleheader loss to 27th-ranked University on Mount Olive on Saturday afternoon at Nixon Field.
Barton honored its senior class of three before the games in outfielder Phillip Cotten, first baseman Collins Cuthrell and shortstop Dillon Rudio.
The Trojans collected 32 hits in the twin bill to win by scores of 9-1 and 22-2.
Mount Olive improved to 28-11 overall and 13-2 in the league with the series sweep. Barton moved to 11-24 and 6-9.
In the opener, UMO scored in five of seven innings and Derek Justice (6-1) tossed a complete game allowing just one run on seven hits.
The Trojans constructed a 6-0 lead with three runs in the second and third innings before Bunce put the Bulldogs on the board with his solo shot to center in the home half of the third.
Bunce's blast was his first of the season and second of his collegiate career.
Mount Olive tacked on one run in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings and was paced by leadoff hitter Jay Gonzalez, who had four hits including a home run, two RBI, two runs and two stolen bases.
Rudio collected three of Barton's seven hits with a trio of singles.
The preseason favorites to win the league completed the sweep with 20 hits. Mount Olive slowly pulled away before putting up 13 runs in the ninth for the lopsided victory.
The Trojans once again led 6-nil before Barton scored its runs. UMO starter Gunner Kines only allowed three singles over the first five innings before the Bulldogs jumped on him for two runs on four consecutive singles in the sixth.
Rudio started the one-out rally with an infield single to short. Freshman Calvin Hawke and junior Mitchell Wheeler loaded the bases with two more base knocks. Webster plated Rudio with the fourth straight single and then Harper knocked in (6-1) had five K's over his 5 1/3 innings of work.
Nine Trojans batters had hits including a game-high four pokes by Justin Manning, who scored all four times. Bradon Reitano, Rob Shipman and DeAndre Allen all added three hits and three RBI. Reitano and Shipman both went deep for their 11th and fifth home runs, respectively.
Barton sophomore starter Ricky Jernigan (1-5) fanned a game-high six Trojans but suffered the loss allowing six runs on seven hits over five innings.
Rudio and Webster both provided the Royal Blue and White with two singles to account for half of BC's hits.
Barton next hosts Chowan University in a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday at 1 p.m.
