Fourth-Seeded Mount Olive Uses Three-Run Ninth Inning to Best Third-Seeded Belmont Abbey
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WILSON, N.C. – A three-run top of the ninth inning allowed fourth-seeded Mount Olive to collect a 6-5 win over third-seeded Belmont Abbey in the first game on Thursday, May 5 of the double-elimination portion of the 2022 Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship.
Mount Olive will next take on the winner of the second-seeded UNC Pembroke-eighth-seeded Barton game at 7 p.m. on Friday. Belmont Abbey will look to stay alive in the double-elimination tournament with a matchup against the winner of the top-seeded North Greenville-sixth-seeded King game at 3 p.m. on Friday.
Jack Casbarro started the game for Mount Olive by singling to left-center field. A couple of batters later after Casbarro had stolen second, Mount Olive’s Alden Cottle singled to right field to score Casbarro and give the Trojans a very early 1-0 advantage.
Belmont Abbey plated a single run in the bottom of the second inning to tie things up at 1-1. The Crusaders then took the lead for the first time at 3-1 with two runs in the bottom of the fourth.
The lead would last until the top of the sixth inning when Mount Olive scored two runs to tie things back up at 3-3. Joshua Jones collected the two runs for the Trojans on a double down the left field line.
The Crusaders went back ahead by one at 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning when Ben Ferguson scored on a wild pitch.
Cooper George started the top of the ninth inning for Mount Olive by singling to left-center field. A sacrifice bunt by Dylan Benton then moved George into scoring position. With two outs, an error allowed the first run of the inning to score to tie things up at 4-4. Another error then allowed Casbarro, who had made his way all the way to third on the previous error, to score the eventual game-winning run. Cottle then singled in another run to set the score at 6-4.
Belmont Abbey would get one of the runs back in the bottom of the ninth inning when current NCBWA National Hitter of the Week Ben Gobbel singled in Scotty Reeves, but Mount Olive would hold on from there for the one-run win.
Mount Olive utilized three pitchers in the game with Joseph Barberio pitching the final two innings to collect the win. He struck out one in his two innings on the mound. Justin Koehler captured the save in dealing the final inning for the Trojans. Caleb Irwin started the game for Mount Olive, striking out five and allowing one earned run in his six innings on the hill.
One of two pitchers used on the day by Belmont Abbey, Avery Short suffered the loss. He gave up one earned run in the final three innings. Jason White dealt the first six innings for Belmont Abbey. He struck out seven, but gave up three earned runs.
Mount Olive out-hit Belmont Abbey, 10-4, in its win. Casbarro was the top performer offensively for the Trojans, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI. Cottle also had three hits to go along with two RBIs. Gobbel captured two of Belmont Abbey’s four hits in the game.
2022 Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship
Historic Fleming Stadium | Wilson, N.C.
Play-in Round – Wednesday, May 4
Game 1: #6 King def. #7 Francis Marion, 9-4 (
Box Score)
Game 2: #8 Barton def. #5 Erskine, 21-2 (
Box Score)
First Round - Thursday, May 5
Game 3: #4 Mount Olive def. #3 Belmont Abbey, 6-5 (
Box Score)
Game 4: #2 UNC Pembroke vs. #8 Barton, 3 p.m.
Game 5: #1 North Greenville vs. #6 King, 7 p.m.
Second Round - Friday, May 6
Game 6: Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 4, 11 a.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 5 vs. #3 Belmont Abbey, 3 p.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 4 vs. #4 Mount Olive, 7 p.m.
If four teams remain after Game 8
Semifinal Round - Saturday, May 7
Game 9: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 8, 11 a.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 3 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 9 vs. Loser Game 10, 7 p.m.
Championship - Sunday, May 8
Game 12: Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11, 1 p.m.
Game 13: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12, 4 p.m. (If Necessary)
If five teams remain after Game 8 and two after Game 11
Semifinal Round - Saturday, May 7
Game 9: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 7, 11 a.m.
Game 10: Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 3 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 8, 7 p.m.