MOUNT OLIVE (Feb. 5) – In an extra-innings contest on Wednesday afternoon, the No. 21 ranked University of Mount Olive baseball program claimed a 3-2 win over Coker via a walk-off bases-loaded walk by junior
Jakhari Howard in the home-opener at Scarborough Field.
With the win, the Trojans improve to 3-1 overall after opening with a three-game road trip to Florida over the previous weekend. Mount Olive snaps a two-game skid in the series to Coker with the last three matchups being decided by three runs or fewer. Meanwhile, the Cobras drop to 1-3 this season after opening the season with a three-game series with Belmont Abbey.
The UMO pitching staff delivered an outstanding performance on the mound with eight different players making an appearance on Wednesday. The group only surrendered five hits while allowing one earned run with eight strikeouts. Senior transfer
Gavin Wilson secured the win (1-0) after yielding zero runs on two hits with two strikeouts in 2.0 innings of work. Graduate student
Hayden Myrick and freshman
John Nelson McLamb also tossed 2.0 scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts.
Following three scoreless innings, the Cobras were able to strike first after scoring on a throwing error in the infield with two outs, 1-0. In the bottom half of the fourth, redshirt sophomore
Jon Howard tied the contest at 1-1 following a towering solo homer to right-center, his second of the year. Mount Olive added another run in the bottom of the fifth after starting the inning with a pair of singles with one out. With runners on the corners, junior
Kayden Crawford scored during the next at-bat on a wild pitch, 2-1.
In the top of the seventh, Coker knotted the score at 2-2 with a bases-loaded walk with one out before UMO escaped further damage with a pair of flyouts. Despite the Trojans having the game-winning run at second base in the ninth, the contest went into extras.
After a scoreless 10th frame, the Trojans started the bottom of the 11th with back-to-back singles to center field. Following a pair of fielder's choices to record outs, the Cobras intentionally walked leadoff hitter junior
Lane McLean to load the bases.
Jakhari Howard worked a five-pitch walk in the next at-bat to secure the 3-2 walk-off win.
McLean reached base four times after going 3-for-5 with one walk, while
Jon Howard finished 3-for-5 with a solo home run. Crawford went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a stolen base against Coker.
The Trojans return to Scarborough Field on Saturday, Feb. 8 to begin a three-game series against Lander, starting with a noon doubleheader.
