YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. (March 29) – Following a pair of losses on Saturday afternoon, the Trojans dropped the series at Young Harris in Conference Carolinas action with a 10-0 loss in Game 1 before suffering a 6-4 defeat in Game 2.
With the losses, the University of Mount Olive baseball program falls to 20-13 overall with an 11-7 mark in league play. The Trojans drop consecutive league series on the road and will return to Scarborough Field next weekend to face rival North Greenville in a three-game slate. Meanwhile, Young Harris improves to 24-9 this season behind a 13-5 record in conference action.
In Game 1, the Trojans were looking to get on the board first in the second frame after loading the bases with three straight singles on two outs but ultimately stranded the trio. The Mountain Lions jumped ahead in the bottom of the third with an RBI single to right field before launching a two-run homer to left-center, 3-0. Young Harris would add to its lead in the fourth with a two-out grand slam to left-center to build a 7-0 lead. The Mountain Lions belted a three-run homer to left field in the bottom of the sixth to complete the 10-0 shutout.
Fifth-year
John Horton was saddled with the loss (3-1) after yielding six earned runs on six hits with two walks over 3.2 innings pitched (63 pitches).
In Game 2, Young Harris established a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a solo homer to left field. Mount Olive managed to respond in the top of the third following a two-out RBI double to right field by redshirt sophomore
Jon Howard, 1-1. YHC immediately answered in the bottom half of the frame with a two-run homer to left field to go ahead by a 3-2 margin.
Following three scoreless innings, the Trojans climbed in front in the seventh with three runs on three hits, highlighted by a two-run single through the left side by junior
Jakhari Howard, 4-3. The Mountain Lions once again countered with consecutive RBI singles to right field to regain the lead, 5-4. The opposition would add another run in the bottom of the eighth to seal a 6-4 win.
Junior
Kayden Crawford finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, a stolen base, and one walk. Juniors
Lane McLean and
Ryder Hancock also went 2-for-4 at the plate with one walk.
Redshirt junior
Lane Roberson (1-2) suffered the loss after surrendering two earned runs on three hits with one strikeout in 2.1 innings of relief. Junior
Lucas Glover took a no-decision in the start after allowing three earned runs on five hits with one strikeout and two walks in 4.1 innings (58 pitches).
Mount Olive will be idle for a week before returning to Scarborough Field for a three-game series against NGU, starting on Friday, April 4, with the first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.
