MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The University of Mount Olive baseball team rallied late to secure an 8-7 walk-off victory over University of North Carolina at Pembroke in a thrilling non-conference contest Saturday afternoon at Scarborough Field.
UNC Pembroke struck first with three runs in the third inning, capitalizing on a fielding error before delivering a two-run double to give the Braves a 3-0 advantage. The Trojans answered in the fourth, scoring on a fielder's choice that allowed Lane McLean to cross the plate and trim the deficit to 3-1.
Mount Olive pulled within one in the sixth inning as J. Howard scored on a wild pitch, making it 3-2.  Then the Trojans surged ahead in the seventh. Rowan Watt doubled to center field before Malachi Gales delivered a two-RBI single to give Mount Olive its first lead of the afternoon. Jakhari Howard followed with an RBI double down the left field line to extend the advantage to 5-3.
UNC Pembroke responded in the eighth with an RBI double to cut the margin to 5-4, then reclaimed the lead in the ninth. The Braves plated three runs on four hits, highlighted by a two-run double to move in front 7-5.
In the bottom of the ninth, Mount Olive refused to go quietly. McLean drew a leadoff walk before Howard singled to put runners at the corners. Connor Tepatti worked a bases-loaded walk to bring home a run, and Garrett Moffett delivered the decisive blow with a two-run single up the middle to cap the comeback and send the Trojans home with the 8-7 victory.
Carson Gipson worked 5.2 innings in the start, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits while striking out six.  Kole Hopkins (1-0) earned the win after tossing 2.2 innings, striking out four.  Jake Fuller closed out the contest with 0.2 innings of scoreless relief with one strikeout.
With the victory, Mount Olive completed the dramatic comeback and will look to carry the momentum into tomorrow, facing UNC Pembroke to finish the three-game series.