MOUNT OLIVE, NC – The University of Mount Olive baseball team erupted for six runs in the sixth inning. That surge powered them past Dominican University of New York, 16-13, in a back-and-forth offensive battle on Tuesday afternoon at Scarborough Field.
Dominican struck quickly in the opening frame, drawing two walks and hammering extra-base hits to plate four runs and seize early control. Mount Olive immediately answered.
In the bottom of the first,
Kayden Crawford jump-started the offense with a double.
Rowan Watt and
Garrett Moffett worked walks to load the bases. A balk brought home the Trojans' first run.
Lane McLean followed with an RBI groundout.
Jakhari Howard then delivered an RBI single to right, trimming the deficit to 4-3 after one.
The Chargers added two unearned runs in the second. They extended the lead with two home runs in the fourth, pushing the margin to 9-4. Crawford again provided a spark in the home half of the fourth by launching a two-run homer to right field. That hit kept the Trojans within striking distance at 9-6.
Mount Olive continued to chip away in the fifth. McLean reached after being hit by a pitch and later scored on Howard's RBI single. Howard eventually scored on a throwing error. Crawford added another RBI knock to cut the deficit to 11-9.
Mount Olive sent 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the sixth. They capitalized on three Dominican pitching changes, four walks, and a hit batter.
Malachi Gales worked an RBI walk.
Mac James tied the game with a sacrifice fly. Crawford drew a bases-loaded walk to give the Trojans their first lead of the afternoon. Watt then delivered a decisive three-run double to center, capping a six-run inning and putting Mount Olive ahead 15-11.
Fuller (W) earned the victory in relief by tossing 4.0 innings and striking out three. After Dominican cut the deficit to two in the eighth, the Trojans drove in a final run with a sacrifice fly from Crawford to bring James home.
Shane Lanier (S) came on to close the door, recording the final four outs. He ended the game with a double play in the ninth. Mount Olive plated 16 runs on just six hits. They drew 13 walks and took advantage of four hit-by-pitches from Dominican pitching.
The Trojans return tomorrow to take on the Chargers at 3:00 PM at Scarborough Field.