MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. - The No. 2 University of Mount Olive baseball team took the series-finale with Barton College 13-8 in Conference Carolinas action Sunday afternoon at Scarborough Field. The Trojans split the series 2-2. UMO improves to 12-4 overall 9-3 in conference, while Barton goes to 6-9, 5-5.

GAME INFORMATION
The game started off in hot fashion for the visiting Barton Bulldogs as they got the bats rolling from the start scoring four runs in the first. BC used two RBI base hits and a sacrifice fly to get the early lead.

UMO had to wait until the third to find their answer and did just that taking the lead on a wild pitch. The 5-4 lead was set up big Gunner Tolston, Stephen Baughan, and Aaron Hedgepeth all recording RBI to tie the game, before the WP scored Zack Smith.

The Trojans added insurance runs in the sixth all via the solo home run as Vito Patierno, Smith, and Jack Casbarro all lifted pitches over the Trojan outfield wall to extend the lead to 8-4. 

Barton scored two in the seventh, but once again UMO had the long ball working as they belted two more home runs, this time two-run home runs by Joe Mason and Baughan to move the lead to 12-6. 

The Bulldogs attempted a comeback in the ninth but UMO only allowed two runs to cross and finished the finale with the 13-8 win.

TROJAN LEADERS
Multiple Trojans had extra RBI days as Stephen Baughan (3), Joe Mason (2), and Vito Patierno (2) all led the team's offensive outburst. Blake Gipson (1-1) was credited with the win in relief going four complete allowing two hits and struck out two.

BARTON LEADERS
Colby Warren collected four RBI to lead the way for the Bulldogs.

KEY MOMENT
The key moment came in the sixth when UMO belted three home runs to gain a 8-4 lead, an advantage Barton was never able to overcome.

ON DECK
Mount Olive Trojans will take to the diamond again to begin a four-game series against No. 7 North Greenville University Friday March 19 at Scarborough Field at 1 p.m.