BOCA RATON, Fla. (Jan. 31) – The Trojan offense exploded for 11 runs in the top of the fifth behind a three-run homer by redshirt junior
Anthony Mitta and a grand slam from junior
Lane McLean in a 12-8 victory at Lynn in the season-opener on Friday afternoon.
With the win, the University of Mount Olive baseball program opens the 2025 campaign with a 1-0 mark after being selected third in the preseason Conference Carolinas poll. The season-opener marked the first time the two sides had met since a neutral site game in 2011. Meanwhile, Lynn moves to 0-1 overall following a placement of sixth in the preseason Sunshine State Conference (SSC) rankings.
In the bottom of the first, the Fighting Knights jumped ahead with a two-out three-run homer in left field to establish the early lead, 3-0. After three scoreless innings, the Trojans tallied their first run of the season as redshirt sophomore
Jon Howard laced an RBI single up the middle in the top of the fourth, 3-1.
The UMO offense caught fire in the fifth inning after scoring 11 runs on eight hits to take a significant 12-3 advantage. The Trojans loaded the bases to begin the frame with a pair of walks and a double. Senior
Rowan Watt registered an RBI single to right-center on the next at-bat before senior
Wade Kelly stole home to tie the contest, 3-3. With runners on the corners with no outs, Mitta belted a three-run homer to right field to take a 6-3 lead. Mount Olive reloaded the bases following three straight singles with one out before junior
Kayden Crawford ripped a two-run single up the middle to stretch the lead to 8-3. A hit-by-pitch loaded the bases again and McLean delivered a grand slam to left field to put UMO ahead by nine runs.
Lynn managed to close the gap over the next two innings, highlighted by a three-run triple in the bottom of the sixth to trail by a 12-8 margin. Junior
Raleigh Walker took the mound in the top of the seventh and registered 2.0 scoreless innings with two hits and one strikeout. In the bottom of the ninth, graduate student
Hayden Myrick went three up, three down in relief to secure the opening day victory, 12-8.
Redshirt senior
Mike Kenney finished 3-for-5 with one run scored while
Jon Howard went 2-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and one walk. In his debut, junior
Jakhari Howard recorded two hits and one run scored on Friday.
Freshman
John Nelson McLamb (1-0) secured his first collegiate victory on the mound after surrendering one earned run on five hits in 2.0 innings of work. Fifth Year
John Horton earned the start and allowed three runs on three hits with eight strikeouts over 4.0 innings.
Mount Olive returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 1, with a matchup against Barry under the lights at 6 p.m.
