No. 1-ranked Trojans turn back Shepherd

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on March 19, 2008 1:49 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Weston Curles scattered four hits in a seven-inning stint as No. 1-ranked Mount Olive dumped Shepherd (W. Va.) 8-3 on Tuesday at Scarborough Field.

The Trojans pounded out 14 hits and stole seven bases in the non-conference contest. Mount Olive (29-2 overall) collected its 27th victory in its last 28 outings.

Freshman Tyler Smith cranked out a run-scoring double in the second inning. Alex Vertcnik's sacrifice fly, which scored David Cooper, boosted the advantage to 2-0 after three innings of play.

Jesse Lancaster's RBI single ignited a five-run, fifth-inning uprising. Anthony Williams drew a lead-off walk and Cooper, who had three hits on the day, singled through the right side.

Lancaster dropped a single just inside the right-field line. Cooper and Lancaster advanced on the double steal and Vertcnik drove home Cooper to make it 4-0. Erik Lovett and Josh Harrison each provided an RBI sacrifice fly and Rich Racobaldo concluded the scoring with an RBI single.

The Rams (6-7) avoided the shutout in the sixth, but couldn't match the Trojans' hitting parade. Curles (3-0) permitted a seventh-inning single, but closed out the inning with a strikeout and line out. He posted five strikeouts overall and walked two.

Anthony Hernandez tossed the final two innings.

The teams conclude their series today. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.