MOUNT OLIVE, NC – Malachi Gales smashed two home runs on Friday, helping the University of Mount Olive baseball team secure a 12-6 victory over Shorter at Scarborough Field.  The win propelled the University of Mount Olive baseball team to 24-18 and 16-12 this season.

In the bottom of the first inning, UMO struck first when Jakhari Howard drove in two runs with a single and Ryder Hancock followed with an RBI double, building an early 3-0 advantage. After Shorter tied the game with a three-run third, Malachi Gales responded in the bottom half by blasting a two-run homer to regain the lead, 5-3. The Hawks answered with a two-run shot in the fourth to draw even at 5-5, but the Trojans grabbed the lead in the fifth as Gales singled home a run and Tanner Ferguson added a two-run single to stretch the lead to 8-5.

Mount Olive extended its cushion in the sixth when Howard crushed a two-run home run. Despite Shorter scoring in the seventh, the Trojans sealed the victory in the eighth as Gales launched his second home run of the game, a two-run shot, finalizing the 12-6 margin.

Gales delivered a 2-for-3 performance with two home runs and four RBI. Jakhari Howard matched that, going 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI, while Tanner Ferguson and Ryder Hancock contributed key RBI hits.

Carson Gipson earned the win (7-3) after pitching 7.0 innings, surrendering six earned runs on eight hits and striking out five. Kole Hopkins fired a scoreless eighth inning, and Aidan Bisbano closed out the final frame to lock in the win.

The Trojans will return to Scarborough Field for their next matchup tomorrow against Shorter for Senior Day, with events scheduled to begin at 11:30 and the games scheduled for 12:00 and 3:00 PM.