MOUNT OLIVE (April 22) – Senior Joshua Kabayama led the UMO offense with three hits, four RBI, and three runs scored, as the No. 19 ranked University of Mount Olive baseball team registered a 15-1 victory over Virginia State at Scarborough Field on Monday afternoon.
With the win, the Trojans improved to 33-12 this season behind a 21-4 mark at home in their final non-conference game of the regular season. Mount Olive improves to 12-0 in the all-time series dating back to 2012 against VSU. Meanwhile, Virginia State falls to 11-28 overall with a 6-17 record on the road.
Following a scoreless first inning, Mount Olive scored four runs on four hits to build an early lead in the second inning. With two outs, sophomore Lane McLean produced an RBI single to center field before Kabayama delivered an infield RBI single to extend the advantage. Later in the frame, senior David Cucci laced a two-run single through the right side.
In the bottom of the fourth, Kabayama recorded an RBI single to left field while senior Dylan Jeffries hit an RBI double down the left-field line, 6-0. Mount Olive added to the lead in the fifth with four runs on four hits. Redshirt sophomore Anthony Mitta delivered an RBI double to right-center before Kabayama produced once again with a two-run single up the middle, 9-0. With two outs, junior Cooper George registered a pinch-hit RBI single to stretch the lead to 10-0.
Senior Zach Zoltoski increased the UMO advantage in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single to left-center before sophomore Davis Halstead launched a grand slam to left field, 15-0. Virginia State scored its lone run of the game in the top of the seventh on a fielder's choice, 15-1.
McLean finished 2-for-3 with one RBI, three runs scored, and two stolen bases. Mitta went 2-for-3 with one RBI, one walk, and three runs scored, while Jeffries also tallied two hits and one RBI.
Junior Matt Poole earned the win (3-1) after yielding zero runs on two hits with seven strikeouts and one walk in 5.0 innings pitched (65 pitches).
The Trojans will begin a three-game series on Friday, April 26, versus Francis Marion with the first pitch for Game 1 set for 6 p.m.
