HARTSVILLE, S.C. — The Mount Olive Trojans baseball showed poise under pressure Tuesday night, scoring twice in the top of the ninth inning to secure a 7–5 road victory over the Coker Cobras baseball.
Mount Olive struck early in the second inning when Garrett Moffett drove in a run with a double. Ryder Hancock followed with an RBI single to give the Trojans a 2–1 edge. After surrendering a run in the opening frame, the Mount Olive bullpen held Coker scoreless for the next six innings.
The Trojans added to their lead in the sixth inning. Malachi Gales launched a solo home run before Moffett tripled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Dawson Ables, helping stretch the advantage to 5–1.
Coker responded in the bottom of the eighth, plating four runs to tie the game at five and set up late drama.
Mount Olive answered immediately in the ninth. Taking advantage of a Coker error, the Trojans regained control behind a clutch two-RBI double from Lane McLean to move ahead 7–5.
On the mound, Aiden Newton earned the win in relief after navigating the late-inning pressure. Carson Gipson closed out the ninth to collect the save. The Trojans finished with 11 hits and played error-free defense in the road victory.
Mount Olive returns to action this weekend for a key conference series against the Belmont Abbey Crusaders baseball. The series begins with a single game Friday, Feb. 20, followed by a doubleheader Saturday, Feb. 21, in Belmont.
