No. 1 Trojans Win Rain-Shortened 9-0 Game Against Pirates

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Top-ranked and defending DII national champion Mount Olive picked up a rain-shortened 9-0 victory over host Armstrong Atlantic State on Monday afternoon, taking the season-opening series from the Pirates.

In a steady drizzle that began in the second inning, the Trojans (2-1) broke open the game with four runs in the second inning as Mount Olive loaded the bases against AASU starter Jeff Chase (0-1). Kevin Kearney drew a bases-loaded walk to score the first run, then Montoya Young delivered a bases-clearing double just inside the first base bag, driving in three and staking Mount Olive to a four-run lead.

The Trojans extended the lead to 7-0 in the third inning on a pair of RBI groundouts and an RBI double by Will Rodriguez, chasing AASU starter Jeff Chase, who gave up seven runs and five hits, walking three in 2 1/3 innings pitched.

Sophomore Blake Culberson pitched the rest of the way for the Pirates, making his first appearance since pitching the PBC Tournament championship game for AASU in May, 2007. Culberson gave up three hits and two unearned runs in 2 2/3 innings pitched in relief of Chase.

Mount Olive starter Ryan Kussmaul (1-0) picked up the win for the Trojans, limiting the Pirates to just one hit in four shutout innings, walking three while striking out four.

Young finished the day with three RBIs on his double, while Vertcnik also drove in three. Rodriguez was the only player to record multiple hits, collecting a single and a double.

The Pirates return to action on Friday, February 6, with a 2:00 p.m. game against Southern Indiana at Pirate Field.