Three Teams Remain Heading Into Final Day of 2021 Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship
Bracket Entering Sunday (LINK)
WILSON, N.C. - Survive and advance was the mindset for Mount Olive on day four of the 2021 Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship at Fleming Stadium as the Trojans secured their spot in the championship game.
Earlier in the day in the battle of the Crusaders, #2 North Greenville used a strong fourth inning to down #4 Belmont Abbey in the first elimination game of the day, 12-7. North Greenville will face #5 Barton in the first game on Sunday at 1 p.m. with the winner advancing to the championship game.
#1 Mount Olive used a pair of late inning rallies to down #3 Erskine, 5-3, to survive before using the same strategy to upend #5 Barton in a potential elimination game for the Trojans.
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ELIMINATION BRACKET GAME
#2 North Greenville 12, #4 Belmont Abbey 7 (Box Score)
Douglas Angeli sparked a seven-run fourth inning to take control for North Greenville with a home run.
Sean Johnson led off the day with a solo home run to put Belmont Abbey on top 1-0. The Crusaders scored a pair in the third inning to lead 3-1.
North Greenville used three hits and a defensive miscue including the home run from Douglas Angeli to take the lead 8-3.
NGU tacked on three runs in the sixth and one in the eighth. Ben Ferguson hit a solo home run in the eighth inning for Belmont Abbey.
Belmont Abbey used a bit of two-out magic for a rally but it was not enough as they were eliminated.
#1 Mount Olive 5, #3 Erskine 3 (Box Score)
A ninth inning rally for Mount Olive allowed the Trojans to survive and advance in the elimination bracket with a 5-3 win over Erskine.
Both teams scored in the opening two innings before the pitchers' duel ensued. Mount Olive's Alan Alonso and Erskine's Dayan Reinoso hit a home run in the opening innings.
Harry Bernard retired 18 straight for Erskine before allowing a one-out single in the ninth inning. Joe Mason scored a "little league" home run after a double into the right center and a throwing miscue allowed Mason to score for Mount Olive. Gunner Tolston added an insurance run with a solo home run to lead 5-2.
Erskine notched a run in the bottom of the ninth on a Dalton Reeves double but was unable to counter the Trojan rally as the Flying Fleet were eliminated.
#1 Mount Olive 13, #5 Barton 9 (Box Score)
Mount Olive scored eight runs in the final three innings to rally back to advance to the championship game.
Barton opened the scoring in the top of the first inning with a four-run frame as Dylan Scaranda hit a two-run home run for the opening runs of the contest.
Mount Olive's Blake McLean hit a solo shot in the bottom of the third inning as the Trojans trimmed the deficit to 5-4.
Alan Alonso tied the game in the fifth inning with a solo home run for Mount Olive before Barton raced back out front with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Barton tacked on a run in the sixth inning as Travious Ford sparked the rally with a triple to center. The back-and-forth continued as Case Kermode doubled down the left field line to plate a pair and later took the lead 10-8 on a Stephen Baughan double to left center.
The Bulldogs picked up a run on a bases loaded wild pitch to cut the deficit to 10-9. UMO's Joe Mason gave the Trojans some breathing room in the eighth inning with a two-run home run to right field to push the advantage to 13-9.
Justin Koehler slammed the door with two shutout innings. He collected four strikeouts to send the Trojans into the championship game.