TAMPA, Florida - The No. 20 University of Mount Olive baseball team defeated the defending NCAA DII National Champion and No. 1 University of Tampa Spartans 11-3 in non-conference action Friday night in Tampa, Fla. UMO improves to 1-0 overall and, while Tampa falls to 0-1.

INSIDE THE SCORE
Mount Olive took the lead after two scoreless innings off the bat of Blake McLean on an RBI-single down the right-field line and UMO led 1-0. The Trojans went onto score three more runs in the third on a Joe Mason two-RBI single and a JT Stone RBI-groundout and the lead grew to 4-0.

Tampa answered with two home runs in the bottom half and trailed by one.

The fifth added two more runs for UMO with RBI by Stone and Alan Alonso and the advantage moved to 7-3.

Mount Olive continued to apply ample pressure offensively plating two runs in the eighth and ninth to lead 11-3. The Trojan pitching staff following the speed bump in the third buckled down and struck out seven of the final 19 batters shutting down Tampa for the 11-3 win.

MOUNT OLIVE LEADERS
The Trojans were led by Joe Mason who went 2-for-2 with two RBI, a walk, and three runs scored. JT Stone, Blake McLean, and Alan Alonso also had two-RBI performances. Will Abbott (1-0) got the win for UMO going four complete allowing three earned and striking out seven. Hunter Stevens (SV:1) got the save closing the game out surrendering only one hit and striking out six over five innings.

TAMPA LEADERS
The Spartans were led by Luke McDonald with a team-high two RBI. 

KEY MOMENT
The key moment of the game came in the fourth when the Trojans were able to plate four runs and hold off Tampa's attack in the bottom half and continue to push home more runs as the game went on and downed the defending National Champion.

UP NEXT
Mount Olive will remain in Tampa, Fla. to take on Georgia College at 1 p.m. on Saturday.