MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. — The University of Mount Olive combined dominant pitching with a consistent offensive attack to earn a convincing 10-2 victory over Coker on Tuesday afternoon.
The Trojans wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, igniting their offense in the opening inning. Team leader Lane McLean, who entered the game with a .500 on-base percentage, reached base to start the frame and helped set the tone early. Mount Olive quickly loaded the bases, and Jakhari Howard, batting .400, drove in the first run after being hit by a pitch. Malachi Gales followed with an RBI fielder’s choice, pushing the Trojans to a 2-0 lead.
Coker trimmed the deficit to 2-1 with a run in the third inning, but Mount Olive responded by maintaining steady pressure. In the fourth inning, Mac James doubled to bring in a run, and McLean followed with an RBI single to extend the lead to 4-1. James, who entered the game with 19 RBIs, added another run in the fifth with an RBI single to make it 5-1.
The Trojans broke the game open in the sixth inning with a four-run surge. Back-to-back singles from McLean and Ryder Hancock set the stage before Josh Mason worked a walk to load the bases. Rowan Watt brought home a run on a groundout, and Howard followed with an RBI single. Mount Olive added two more runs on aggressive baserunning and Coker miscues, stretching the lead to 9-1.
Mount Olive added its final run in the seventh inning when Watt delivered an RBI single to score Mason, who had reached via hit-by-pitch and stole second base.
On the mound, John Nelson McLamb delivered one of his strongest outings of the season. Entering the contest with a 9.08 ERA, the right-hander turned in eight efficient innings, striking out seven while allowing just two runs on five hits. McLamb faced his toughest test in the third inning, but stranded the bases loaded and limited the damage to one run.
Kole Hopkins closed the game in the ninth inning, working around a baserunner to secure the Trojans’ 10-2 victory.
Mount Olive now turns its attention to a key weekend series against No. 13 Francis Marion. The Trojans are scheduled to open the series Friday at 6:00 p.m.
