Matt Dillon and Josh Frederick combined on a five-hit shutout and Geno Escalante extended his hitting streak to 34 games while driving in three runs as Mount Olive blanked North Greenville 10-0 in Conference Carolinas baseball Friday night at Scarborough Field. All nine batters scored at least one run for Mount Olive which reached double figures for the 29th time this season.

The Trojans (36-7 overall, 21-3 Conference Carolinas) in the second, third and sixth innings against Crusader starter Drew Provence (5-3). That was more than enough support for Dillon, who moved to 8-0 on the season with eight shutout innings. He walked three and struck out five, lowering his earned run average to a conference best 1.61.

Dillon also benefited from his teammates' defense. Centerfielder Antonio Callaway made a diving catch with a runner on base to end the first. Escalante went to his knees to catch a foul ball an inning later, and infielders Mike Mercurio and Jermaine Berry made diving stops to prevent North Greenville rallies.

Dillon also made pitches when he had to. With Mount Olive ahead 1-0 in the third, Dillon worked his way around a hit and a walk to strike out the side. In the ninth, left fielder Bryan Dunlavey ended the Crusaders last effort when he gunned down a North Greenville runner who wandered off second base.

Offensively, Mount Olive kept pressure on Provence, but was unable to put together a big inning. In the second, Esclante extended his hitting streak with a lead-off double, then scored on Berry's single. Another hit by Braden Reitano put runners on the corners with no outs, but Provense benefited from a caught stealing and two groundouts to escape further damage.

The Trojans scored again in the third on a single by Dunlavey, a Mercurio sacrifice bunt and a single by Callaway. The Trojans settled for one run again while stranding a pair.

Berry's lead-off double in the sixth led to the third run. One out later, Cameron Sherrer slapped an RBI-single to left.

Mount Olive's offense came to life against the Crusader bullpen. The Trojans scored a lone run in the seventh on Escalante's infield single to score Mercurio. In the seventh, the Trojans blew the game open, sending 10 men to the plate, scoring six runs.

Two walks and a bunt single set the stage. Dunlavey singled home a pair, Mercurio delivered a sacrifice fly, Escalante singled home two more and Berry singled to stretch the lead to 10-0.

Escalante and Berry each had three of the Trojans' 15 hits. Dunlavey delivered a pair of RBI.

Dylan Fulk had two hits for North Greenville.

The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at noon. Prior to the opener, the Trojans will recognize their seniors.