March 21, 2008
Contact: Leah Melichar
Limestone College Sports Information
Phone: 864-488-8219
lmelichar@limestone.edu

LIMESTONE BASEBALL LOSES TWO TO NO. 1 MOUNT OLIVE

GAFFNEY, S.C.— The Saints baseball team suffered two close losses to No. 1-ranked Mount Olive College on Friday afternoon at Bob Prevatte Field. Mount Olive edged Limestone 5-4 in the first contest, and the Trojans took game two 7-5. Mount Olive climbs to 14-0 in Conference Carolinas play (32-2 overall) as the Saints drop to 9-8 in league play (18-16).

In the day’s first game, the Trojans scored in the first as Alex Vertcnik (Waukesha, Wisc.) hit a sacrifice fly to score David Cooper (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada). The Trojans’ Josh Harrison (Harrison, N.C.) scored on another sacrifice fly, this time by Dylan Holton (Nova Scotia, Canada), to take the 2-0 lead in the fourth.

The Saints tied the game in the seventh. Phillip Soden (Inman, S.C.) got on base with a single to right field, and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Next, Adam McSwain (Fallston, N.C.) hit his eighth home run of the year to make the score 2-2.

Mount Olive’s Jason Sherrer (Mesa, Ariz.) gave his team the lead back with a lead-off home run in the eighth. Holton drove in the Trojan’s fourth run as Harrison came home on a one-out double. Holton came home after a wild pitch for the 5-2 advantage. Limestone reliever Brock White (Gaffney, S.C.) entered the game with two-on, two-out situation and allowed no hits to get the Saints out of the top of the inning.

Justin Moore (Mt. Holly, N.C.) singled to center field with two outs to score Josh Izokovic (Shelby, N.C.) from second base in the ninth. A.J. Bsharah (East Kentwood, Mich.) put the Saints within one (5-4) as Drew Lydon (White Plains, Md.) scored.

Casey Hodges (Rocky Mount, Va.) pitched a complete game to pick up the win as his record climbed to 5-0 on the season. Hodges recorded nine strikeouts and only allowed six hits.  Limestone’s Clayton Knight (Moncks Corner, S.C.) suffered his first loss of the season to fall to 3-1 after he pitched the first 7 2/3 innings and had two strikeouts while allowing eight hits. White pitched the final 1 1/3 inning.

The Saints’ Moore was 2-3 with one RBI. Sherrer was 2-4 with one RBI, and Harrison hit 2-5 with two runs scored.  Harrison, Rich Racobaldo (Marlton, N.J.), and Holton each had a stolen base.

Limestone scored first in the second game. Izokovic stole second and reached third on an error by the catcher. Soden singled to right field to drive Izokovic home. The Saints built their lead to 3-0 with a two-run, two-out double by McSwain to score Ryan McKenzie (Dunedin, Fla.) and Izokovic.

Racobaldo scored the Trojans’ first run in the fourth inning off a single by Anthony Williams (Myrtle Beach, S.C.). Williams and Tyler Smith (Kinston, N.C.) tied the score off a base hit by Cooper. After stealing second, Cooper scored on Jesse Lancaster’s (Goldsboro, N.C.) double. Vertcnik doubled to left field as Lancaster scored for the 5-3 lead. Racobaldo nailed his fifth homerun of the year in the fifth inning. With the bases loaded, Lancaster walked for Smith to score for the 7-3 advantage.

The Saints chipped away at Mount Olive’s lead as Soden had a one-run triple to put his team within three. McSwain hit a fly ball to right field that the Trojan right fielder couldn’t get a handle on as Soden scored Limestone’s final run of the game.

Limestone’s Thomas Fekete (Aiken, S.C.) started the first 5 2/3 innings and recorded four strikeouts as he took the loss to fall to 2-1 on the season. Jordan Liette (Versailles, Ohio) saw action in the fifth, and Kyle Matheney (Spindale, N.C.) finished out the game. Matheney only gave up one hit in 2 1/3 innings.
Izokovic hit 3-3 with 3 runs scored as Soden was 2-4 with two RBIs. McSwain also batted 2-4 with three RBIs.

Racobaldo hit 3-4 with one RBI and two runs scored, and Williams was 2-3 with one RBI and one run scored.

Mount Olive’s Ryan Schlecht (Scottsdale, Ariz.) pitched the first five innings and got the win. He had one strikeout and allowed 10 hits. Kyle Jones (Greenville, N.C.) came into the game in the sixth and picked up the save after he allowed two hits in two innings of work and struck out three batters.

Limestone and Mount Olive will play a single game on Saturday. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. The contest will have a video webcast through ConferenceCarolinas.tv.

-LIMESTONE-