Jake Moser held Limestone to just five hits, and nationally fifth-ranked Mount Olive used a 10-run second inning to win its 20th-consecutive game, 12-0 over Limestone in game one of a Conference Carolinas baseball doubleheader Saturday afternoon in Gaffney, S.C. Moser (7-1) tossed his second complete game of the season, picking up his first shutout. In the nightcap, Jacob Rogers blasted his 14th homer of the season as Mount Olive outscored the Saints 16-7.

In the opener, Mount Olive (32-6 overall, 18-2 Conference Carolinas) sent 18 batters to the plate in the decisive second. Junior catcher Geno Escalante got things started with a single to left extending his hitting streak to 29 games. Escalante and Will Bynum had two hits apiece in the second.

Bynum's bases-loaded double brought home the first two runs, and Daniel Coffey followed with a two-run single. After a wild pitch, Mike Mercurio tripled to deep right field. He then scored on a sacrifice fly by Antonio Callaway. Escalante's second hit, a double to left brought home the seventh run, then Nick Gaeta doubled and Cameron Sherrer singled to stretch the lead to 10-0.

Moser retired the first 10 batters he faced and only faced two serious threats from the Saints. In the fourth, Limestone (12-28, 3-17) put together a pair of one-hit singles, but Moser got a strikeout and a popout to end the threat. An inning later, Limestone loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. Moser was able to get a strikeout to end the frame.

The Trojans padded their lead in the sixth. Jacob Rogers led off with a double and scored on a single by Braden Reitano. In the seventh, Mercurio singled home Daniel Coffey for the final run.

In the nightcap, five Trojans delivered at least two hits, and reliever Chris Hinton tossed four shutout innings as the winning streak reached 21.

Mount Olive began the slugfest with a four-run first inning against Limestone starter Cameron Ward. A single by Callaway and walks to Rogers and Escalante loaded the bases with one out. Gaeta forced in the first run with a walk, then Sherrer singled home two more. A wild pitch made it 4-0.

Sherrer finished with four RBI, one shy of his season-high earlier this season against Virginia State.

Two unearned runs allowed the Saints to trim the lead to 4-2, but Mount Olive pulled away again. In the third, Escalante singled to extend his hitting streak to 30, then Reitano doubled to left. Gaeta lofted a sacrifice fly to bring home Escalante.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Saints again came charging back. Marcus Breeden, Zach Howard and Julian Bridges delivered RBI-doubles in the frame. Josh Lyon then put his team ahead with an RBI-single.

Limestone's lead did not last long. Skylar Sopotnick (3-0) got the Trojans out of further damage in the fourth, allowing the Trojan offense to regroup. In the fifth, Callaway's speed led to the tying run. He legged out and infield single, stole second and took third on a throwing error. After a walk to Rogers, Escalante singled home the tying run. A walk to Reitano later in the inning loaded the bases. Gaeta then walked with the bases loaded for a 7-6 advantage the Trojans never relinquished.

Sherrer brought home a run with a groundout and Mercurio was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for a 9-6 lead.

In the sixth, Hinton came in and shut down the Saints' attack. Hinton tossed 4 1/3 innings of shutout relief, allowing six hits and a walk while striking out three.

Mount Olive piled on four more runs in the sixth. Sherrer walked with the bases loaded, then Bynum delivered a two-run single.

Walks were a problem for the Saint pitchers all weekend. In Saturday's finale, the Trojans benefitted from 14 walks. In the three-game series, Trojan hitters received 31 walks. Mount Olive also took advantage of their speed with eight stolen bases Saturday, four by Callaway.

Escalante Doubled home a run in the seventh, and Rogers led off the ninth with a solo homer to right.

The heart of Mount Olive's batting order accounted for all but one of Mount Olive's 16 runs, while Sherrer, Gaeta and Bynum accounted for 10 RBI.

The Trojans return to action next weekend with a three-game series at Pfeiffer. The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at noon, followed by a single game Sunday starting at 1 p.m.