TIGERVILLE, S.C. — The University of Mount Olive Trojans baseball dropped a conference doubleheader to the North Greenville Crusaders baseball on Saturday, falling 3-2 in a tightly contested opener before losing 7-1 in the second game.
Game One – North Greenville 3, Mount Olive 2
The first game featured a strong pitching duel early, highlighted by an impressive performance from Mount Olive starter Aiden Newton, who recorded 10 strikeouts over seven innings while limiting North Greenville to just two runs.
Mount Olive struck first in the fourth inning. Lane McLean reached base and advanced into scoring position before coming home on Josh Mason’s groundout to shortstop, giving the Trojans a 1-0 lead.
The Trojans added another run in the fifth inning. McLean was hit by a pitch and stole second base before Jakhari Howard delivered a single to left-center field to drive him in and extend the lead to 2-0.
North Greenville responded in the sixth inning with a run to cut the deficit to 2-1. The Crusaders tied the game in the seventh with an RBI single up the middle.
The game was decided in the eighth inning when North Greenville loaded the bases and scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly, securing the 3-2 victory.
Game Two – North Greenville 7, Mount Olive 1
North Greenville carried its momentum into the second game, taking advantage of a Mount Olive throwing error in the opening inning to score first.
The Crusaders extended their lead in the third inning when Thomas Powell hit a solo home run. Later in the same inning, an RBI single pushed the advantage to 3-0.
Mount Olive’s best offensive opportunity came in the fifth inning. Josh Mason, Connor Tepatti, and Tanner Ferguson combined for three hits in the frame, with Ferguson driving in Mason on an RBI single to cut the deficit to 3-1.
North Greenville maintained control down the stretch. An RBI double in the sixth inning made it 4-1 before Powell hit his second home run of the game in the seventh to spark a two-run inning. The Crusaders added another run in the eighth to cap the scoring.
Mount Olive managed five hits in the game but struggled to sustain offense, going scoreless in eight of nine innings while North Greenville totaled 12 hits.
The Trojans will return home Tuesday to face the Wingate Bulldogs baseball in a non-conference matchup scheduled for 4 p.m.
