Mount Olive Edges No. 20 Belmont Abbey in Extras to Avoid Series Sweep

BELMONT, N.C. — After dropping the first two games of the series, Mount Olive responded with resilience, grinding out a 6-5 victory in 11 innings to avoid the sweep against No. 20 Belmont Abbey.
The Trojans struck first in the second inning when Jakhari Howard singled and later scored on a Josh Mason RBI double to right field. Mount Olive was able to tack on three additional scores from some defensive misplays from the Crusaders.  Belmont Abbey answered with two runs in the second and added a three-run homer in the third to build a 5-4 advantage.
Mount Olive's bullpen combined for 8.2 scoreless innings to close the game, shutting down a Crusader offense that had erupted early. Belmont Abbey was held scoreless after the third inning as the Trojan staff settled in and executed pitch after pitch in high-leverage situations.  Aiden Newton delivered 6.2 dominant innings in relief, allowing just four hits and no runs while striking out five to stabilize the contest.
In the eighth inning, Howard tripled down the right-field line and scored on an RBI single from Ryder Hancock to tie the game at 5-5.
Both teams traded zeroes into extra innings, but Mount Olive's composure proved decisive. In the 10th and 11th innings, the Trojans stranded Belmont Abbey runners in scoring position, preventing the Crusaders from capitalizing on late opportunities.
Mount Olive finally broke through in the 11th. Connor Tepatti drew a lead off walk, and K. Crawford followed with a single. After a strikeout, Garrett Moffett laced a double to left field to drive in the go-ahead run and give the Trojans a 6-5 advantage.
In the bottom of the 11th, Aidan Bisbano worked around traffic, stranding the tying run at third base to secure the win and preserve the hard-fought extra-inning triumph.
 The Trojans return on Tuesday with a mid-week matchup at home against #5 ranked Catawba scheduled for 3:00 PM .