BELMONT, N.C. (March 18) – Following an offensive explosion in the final game of the series, the Trojans recorded a doubleheader split at Belmont Abbey on Saturday afternoon in Conference Carolinas action, suffering a walk-off loss by a 6-5 margin in Game 1 before posting a 19-6 win in Game 2.

With the split, the University of Mount Olive baseball team stands at 17-7 this season behind a 7-5 record in league play. The Trojans drop their first conference series of the season and sit fourth in the conference standings. Meanwhile, the Crusaders hold an 18-9 overall record with a 6-9 mark in league action.

In Game 2, UMO raced out to an early 3-0 advantage in the top of the first after the initial two batters reached base. With one out, senior JT Stone laced a two-run single up the middle to take a 2-0 lead before teammate Joshua Jones produced an RBI single to extend the advantage, 3-0. In the following frame, the Trojans scored on a wild pitch before the Crusaders got on the board with an RBI single through the left side, 4-1. After a scoreless third, senior Jack Casbarro led off the fourth with a double down the left-field line. Graduate student Landon Choboy delivered a one-out RBI single to right field before Stone belted a two-run homer to right-center, 7-1.

Each team tallied a run in the fifth before UMO registered a five-run inning to break open the game. Senior David Cucci and freshman Davis Halstead each produced an RBI single into the outfield before senior Dylan Jeffries ripped an RBI double to left field, 11-2. With two outs later in the frame, Choboy posted a two-run single through the left side to stretch the lead to 13-2. In the top of the eighth, the Trojans scored six more runs on four hits, highlighted by a two-run homer from Jeffries, his team-leading sixth of the year. Belmont Abbey was able to score four runs in the bottom half, but Mount Olive would go onto seal the 19-6 win.

Seven UMO batters registered a multi-hit performances, including junior Vito Patierno, who went 5-for-6 with one RBI and two runs scored. Choboy, Jeffries, and Stone all tallied two hits and at least three RBI in the victory.

Senior Dawson Gause earned the win (2-0) after yielding two runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and one walk in 5.0 innings. Fellow senior Jaydon Gartner also added 2.0 innings of scoreless relief with three strikeouts.

In Game 1, the Crusaders built a 4-0 lead in the initial two innings of the game after tallying six hits. After a pair of scoreless frames, sophomore Cooper George drew a leadoff walk before stealing second. The next at-bat, Choboy recorded an RBI single up the middle before senior Gordon Pihl laced an RBI double down the left-field line, 4-2.

With two outs in the seventh, the Trojans had runners on the corners before Casbarro posted a clutch two-run triple to right field to tie the game, 4-4. Patierno followed with an RBI double to center field to take the lead, 5-4. In the bottom half, the Crusaders drew consecutive walks before a fielding error tie the game, 5-5. With one out, Belmont Abbey hit a slow ground ball down the first-base line that scored the game-winning run from third, 6-5.

Senior Jonathan Peacock was saddled with the loss (1-1) after surrendering two runs on zero hits with two walks in 1.0 innings of relief. Senior Erik Johnson received a no-decision in the start after allowing four runs on nine hits with five strikeouts and two walks in 5.0 innings.

The Trojans return home on Tuesday, March 21, when they host Catawba in a single nine-inning contest, starting at 4 p.m.