GASTONIA, N.C. (April 30) – Fifth-year
John Horton made a stellar appearance out of the bullpen, as the Trojans claimed a 9-6 victory over King in the play-in round of the Conference Carolinas Championship on Wednesday at CaroMont Health Park.
Final Score: Mount Olive 9, King 6
Records: Mount Olive (30-19), King (14-36)
Next Up: The Trojans, with the win, advance to the double-elimination portion of the bracket and will face No. 2-seeded Young Harris in the first round on Thursday, May 1, at 3 p.m.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Tornado jumped ahead in the top of the second with a leadoff solo homer to left-center to hold a 1-0 advantage. Mount Olive responded with six runs on six hits, highlighted by a trio of doubles in the bottom half of the second. Redshirt senior Mike Kenney and senior Wade Kelly each registered an RBI single while junior Lane McLean laced a two-run double down the left-field line, 6-1.
- In the top of the third, King countered with four runs on five hits while delivering a pair of homers to cut the deficit to 6-5. The Trojans answered in the bottom of the third, as junior Dawson Ables recorded an RBI single to right field to extend the lead to 7-5.
- Following a trio of scoreless frames, UMO stretched its lead to 9-5 behind a pair of RBI singles from Moffett and Kenney. The Tornado managed to hit another solo homer in the ninth, but the Trojans held on for a 9-6 victory.
AT THE PLATE:
ON THE MOUND:
- Horton improved to 5-2 on the season after yielding one earned run on five hits with five strikeouts and one walk over 6.1 innings pitched (83 pitches)
