MOUNT OLIVE, North Carolina - The No. 7 University of Mount Olive baseball team defeated the Hawks of Chowan University 3-1 in the series opener Friday night at Scarborough Field. UMO improves to 13-2 overall and 4-0 in conference, while Chowan falls to 5-10, 0-4.

INSIDE THE SCORE
Mount Olive took control of the low run-scoring pitcher's duel in the bottom of the fourth when Zack Smith singled into right center to drive home Junior Snow for the game's first run.

Chowan tied the game in the top of the sixth in the on a solo home run and the game remained deadlocked until the eighth.

Matt Stokes came up with what would be the game-winning run in a pinch-hit appearance in the eighth with two away and scored Joe Mason for the go-ahead run. The Trojans added one more insurance run off a Jack Casbarro RBI-single and UMO led 3-1.

A game-ending double play ended the Hawks' threat in the top of the ninth and Mount Olive took the win. 

MOUNT OLIVE LEADERS
Will Abbott (3-0) got the win for the Trojans going eight complete allowing only six hits, surrendering one run and struck out eight. Jake Isbell (SV:3) came in to shut down the game in the ninth and picked up the three out save. Matt Stokes led UMO with the game-winning RBI on the heels of a 1-for-1 performance. 

CHOWAN LEADERS
The Hawks were led by Jack Kane who went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

KEY MOMENT
The key moment of the game came in the eighth when Stokes put the Trojan ahead for good.

UP NEXT
Mount Olive will complete the three-game series with Chowan tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. at Scarborough Field.