GREENVILLE, S.C. – The University of Mount Olive baseball team was picked to finish fifth in the Conference Carolinas Preseason Poll, as announced by the league office Friday afternoon.

The Trojans earned 126 points to place fifth overall. North Greenville and Francis Marion tied atop the poll with 149 points apiece, each collecting four first-place votes. Young Harris followed in third with 145 points and three first-place votes, while Belmont Abbey rounded out the top four with 136 points and three first-place votes.

Mount Olive returns several key contributors heading into the 2026 season, including Lane McLean, Malachi Gales, and Lucas Glover.

McLean is coming off a standout 2025 campaign, earning First Team All-Conference Carolinas honors, All-Defensive Team recognition, and D2CCA Southeast First Team All-Region accolades. Gales, a transfer from UNC Greensboro, joins the Trojans after two seasons with the Spartans, where he appeared in 15 games with six starts, recording four hits, three runs scored, and three RBIs. Glover anchors the Trojans' pitching staff after posting a 4.29 ERA in 2025, finishing with a 3–3 record across 63.0 innings while leading the team with 58 strikeouts.

The Trojans open the 2026 season at home against Coker on Tuesday, Feb. 3, with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. at Scarborough Field.