MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. (March 14, 2017) – No. 5/11 nationally ranked Mount Olive used two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth to pull away from the Franklin Pierce University baseball team on Tuesday afternoon, after the two sides had traded three runs each through the early innings. Ultimately, Mount Olive would come up with a 7-4 win in non-conference action at Scarborough Field.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 6-6, while Mount Olive improves to 20-5. Franklin Pierce will wrap up its spring break trip on Wednesday, as it pays a visit to Wingate for a non-conference contest. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at Ron Christopher Stadium in Wingate, N.C.

Franklin Pierce opened the scoring on Tuesday with a run in the top of the third inning. Junior left fielder Adam Chase (Bridgewater, Mass.) led off with a single inside the left-field line, moved to second on a bunt single by junior right fielder Harrison Smoske (Burlington, Mass.) and later scored on an RBI single through the left side of the infield by junior third baseman John Friday (Southborough, Mass.).

Mount Olive answered with two runs in the home half of the third to jump to a 2-1 lead. Junior second baseman Jack Sherrill was hit by a pitch leading off, and junior center fielder Grant Tyndall followed with a two-run home run to left field, his first of the season.

The Ravens shot back out front, 3-2, with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Things started with two outs, as junior center fielder Tim Going (Islip, N.Y.) reached on an infield single and wound up at second on the play, thanks to an errant throw from the third baseman. He would score from there when Chase -- who went 3-for-4 and scored twice in the game -- followed with an RBI double down the left-field line. Chase then came around to score as senior second baseman Kyle Hood (Arlington, Mass.) dumped an RBI single into right-center field.

Mount Olive tied the game at 3-3 with a run in the home half of the fourth. With one out, senior designated hitter Zach Monzingo knocked a double down the left-field line and scored as junior catcher Jose Lopez followed with an RBI single to left-center.

The Trojans took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, senior shortstop Ricky Surum singled through the left side and then went first-to-third on a single back through the middle by senior left fielder David Mayo. After Mayo stole second, both runners would score on a two-run single through the right side by junior first baseman Drew Ellis.

Mount Olive tacked on a run in the bottom of the sixth to push the lead to 6-3. Sherrill singled through the right side with one out and went first-to-third on a single to left-center by Surum. Sherrill would ultimately come home to score on an error on the play, as the throw back in from the outfield escaped capture by the Franklin Pierce infield.

Franklin Pierce cut the gap to 6-4 with a run in the top of the seventh. Smoske clubbed a one-out triple into the gap in right-center and scored on an RBI groundout by senior shortstop Lucas Luopa (Keene, N.H.).

Mount Olive got the run right back, and created the 7-4 final, with a run in the bottom half of the seventh. Ellis led off and socked a solo home run to right-center field, his eighth long ball of the season.

Franklin Pierce put two runners on base in the top of the eighth, but left them there, as Monzingo came in to pitch and nailed down a four-out save, his fifth of the season.

Franklin Pierce threw seven pitchers on Tuesday, after a planned short start from junior right-hander Mike Lundin (Kingston, Mass.), who continues to work his way back from injury. Over two-plus innings, Lundin allowed one run without surrendering a hit, walked two, hit a batter and struck out two. Freshman right-hander Thomas Sperino (Mendon, Mass.) would ultimately take the loss (0-1) out of the bullpen for the Ravens, after coming on with one out in the fourth. He threw one inning, allowed two runs on three hits and struck out one.

Meanwhile, junior right-hander Braxton Shetley started on the hill for Mount Olive and also did not factor in the decision. Over 3.2 innings, he allowed three runs on six hits, walked one and struck out two. Junior right-hander Ethan Horne (2-1) picked up the win out of the bullpen for the Trojans. He threw the next 2.1 innings, did not allow a run, gave up one hit and struck out three.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce baseball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).