Nationally top-ranked Mount Olive rallied for four runs in the eighth inning and reliever Talton Cherry retired the final four batters as the Trojans defeated Wingate University 10-8 in the rubber game of a three-game non-conference baseball series in Wingate, N.C. Sunday afternoon.

Mount Olive (5-2) watched the Bulldogs rally from an early deficit for the third consecutive game. By the time the eighth inning began, the Trojans faced an 8-6 deficit. Bryan Dunlavey was hit by a pitch to start the frame, then one out later, Bradon Reitano singled to left. to put the tying runs on base. A wild pitch later, both runners were in scoring position.

Wingate pitcher Steven Vaughan recorded his second strikeout of the inning before giving way to Ryan Fitzpatrick (0-1). Fitzpatrick was one strike away from getting out of the inning, but Jacob Rogers drew a walk to keep the inning alive for Nick Gaeta.

Gaeta's hustle allowed him to beat out a grounder to second base. When the throw to first got away, the race was on for Mount Olive. Dunlavey scored on the hit and Reitano tied the game on the error. Another throwing error on the play allowed Rogers and Gaeta to circle the bases as well.

The rally made a winner of Trojan hurler Justin Weaver. Weaver, Chris Hinton and Cherry settled things down for Mount Olive after the Bulldogs (5-2) scored eight unanswered runs, seven unearned, in the fourth and fifth innings.

Weaver (1-0) allowed one hit in one and one-third innings, and Cherry retired the final four batters for his second save of the season.

Mount Olive jumped out to a 5-0 lead after an inning and a half. In the top of the first, Mike Mercurio and Reitano walked, took second on a passed ball, then scored on a throwing error. In the second, Daniel Oliver singled, Jermaine Berry walked and Antonio Callaway legged out a bunt single. A Dunlavey groundout brought home one run, then Reitano singled home two more.

Gaeta finished with three hits for the Trojans, while Reitano and Oliver had two apiece. All of the Trojans' 12 hits were singles.

The Trojans return to action Saturday with a doubleheader against LeMoyne. First pitch at Scarborough Field is noon.