Sunday, February 3, 2008

 

TUSCULUM RALLIES LATE TO BEAT NO. 6 MOUNT OLIVE 9-5

 

Maikol Gonzalez                MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. --- The No. 7 Tusculum College baseball erupted for five runs in the top of the ninth inning as the Pioneers defeated sixth-ranked Mount Olive College, 9-5 Sunday afternoon at Scarborough Field.  Tusculum (1-2) salvaged a victory from this weekend’s highly touted three-game series between the top 10 programs.

 

                Tusculum had to rally from behind twice late in the game.  The Pioneers trailed 3-2 heading into the eighth inning.  Maikol Gonzalez scored the tying run thanks to a fielding error and later in the inning, Christian Rosa scored on Paul Finger’s sacrifice fly to give TC the lead at 4-3.

                                                                      

                In the bottom of the eighth, the Trojans (2-1) retook the lead with a pair of runs, including Rich Racobaldo’s sacrifice fly, scoring Anthony Williams for a 5-4 advantage.

                                                           

                In the top of the ninth, Aaron Hudgins drew a one-out walk and later moved to third on a single by Carlos Rivera.  Gonzalez cleared the bases with his two-run double to center, giving the Pioneers the lead for good.  Matt Ford came through with a two-run single and the Pioneers would round out the offense with Matt Webb’s run-scoring single, bringing home pinch runner Jake Fowler.

 

                In the bottom of the ninth, Tusculum reliever Mat Galens surrendered a two-out double, but struck Williams to record the victory.

 

                Gonzalez led Tusculum going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two RBI and scored three times, while Rivera and Rosa also posted 2-for-4 efforts.  Dustin Morrow also had a two-hit day, including a double as the Pioneers finished with a dozen hits.  Rosa also recorded a pair of stolen bases on the afternoon.

 

                Mount Olive’s Jason Sherrer went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, while Alex Vertcnik went 1-for-3 with three RBI and a pair of walks.

 

                Galens (1-0) picked up the win as he pitched the final two innings, where he allowed a run on three hits and struck out a pair.  Patrick Ball (0-1) suffered the loss for the Trojans.

 

                The Pioneers are back in action next weekend for four games in Kannapolis, N.C.  TC will open next weekend’s on Friday with a pair of games.  Tusculum will face the College of St. Rose at 11 a.m., followed by a non-conference tilt against Newberry College at 6 p.m.

 

- TC -