MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. — Mount Olive swept Saturday's doubleheader against King (Tenn.). The Trojans secured a 3-2 win in the opener and stormed back for a dramatic 5-4 walk-off victory in 10 innings to finish the sweep.
Following that, by launching a leadoff home run down the left-field line in the first inning,
Lane McLean immediately gave Mount Olive a 1-0 advantage, setting the tone early in the opener. This blast added to McLean's productive season. Ranking among conference leaders, he has eight home runs and 51 runs scored.
Later, in the third inning, King evened the score with a run-scoring double. Mount Olive quickly responded in the bottom half.
Tanner Ferguson ignited the rally with a double, later scoring on
Ryder Hancock's sacrifice fly to restore the Trojans' 2-1 lead.
Continuing their momentum, the Trojans added an important insurance run in the sixth inning.
Jakhari Howard, who entered the day hitting .406 with a .520 on-base percentage—both among the conference's top marks—doubled to lead off. Later,
Mac James drove him home with an RBI single, pushing the Mount Olive lead to 3-1.
Still, King mounted a threat in the seventh inning by drawing a lead-off walk and advancing a runner on an error, leading to a run that cut the deficit to 3-2. However, Mount Olive's closer retired the final two batters with runners on base to secure the win.
For Mount Olive,
Aidan Newton tossed a complete game, scattering seven hits and two runs over 7.0 innings. He entered among conference leaders with a 3.23 ERA and a .238 opponent average.
In the second game, Mount Olive initially trailed 4-0 entering the eighth inning but staged a thrilling late comeback, eventually winning on a walk-off in the 10th inning.
Early on, the sixth inning saw King break through. Their lead extended to 3-0 on a two-run home run in the seventh. The margin stretched to 4-0 after another RBI double in the eighth, putting the Trojans in a late hole.
Mount Olive answered back in the bottom of the eighth inning. Pinch hitter
Kayden Crawford delivered a clutch extra-base hit to left field, resulting in two runs and cutting the deficit to 4-2. Moments later, McLean followed with an RBI single through the left side to bring the Trojans within one.
The momentum continued for the Trojans as they tied the game in the ninth inning when
Josh Mason singled to lead off the frame and advanced into scoring position before
Malachi Gales drove him home with a clutch RBI single through the left side. Gales' continued production has been a key part of Mount Olive's offense, as he ranks among conference leaders with a .651 slugging percentage.
With the score tied, Mount Olive held King scoreless in the 10th inning. Then, in the bottom half, Mount Olive executed small ball to perfection. McLean reached after being hit by a pitch and advanced on a sacrifice bunt before Mason delivered another single to move him to third. With the winning run just 90 feet away,
Rowan Watt lifted a sacrifice fly to right-center field, allowing McLean to score the walk-off run and complete the series sweep of the conference opponent.
The Trojans return on Tuesday as they face one of the top-ranked teams in Catawba, with the game scheduled for 3:00 PM in Salisbury, NC.
