FLORENCE, S.C. — Despite a resilient offensive performance and multiple lead changes, the University of Mount Olive baseball team fell 10-9 to Newberry College on Tuesday night in a high-scoring non-conference battle.
With the loss, the Trojans move to 19-18 on the season after being unable to hold off a late rally by the Wolves.
Newberry jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first, capitalizing on a pair of Mount Olive defensive miscues and a two-run single. The Trojans responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning. RBI singles from Rowan Watt and Jakhari Howard ignited the rally before sophomore Malachi Gales delivered a clutch two-run triple to right-center field to give Mount Olive the lead. Mac James capped the five-run frame with an RBI single, putting the Trojans ahead 5-3.
The lead proved short-lived, as Newberry reclaimed a 6-5 advantage in the second inning with a three-run outburst, aided by two additional Trojan errors. Mount Olive answered once again when junior Lane McLean launched a solo home run to left field to open the inning — his fifth of the season — followed by a Watt RBI double to put UMO back in front, 7-6.
After Newberry tied the game with a solo homer in the third, Mount Olive manufactured another run in the fourth. Howard reached on an error that allowed Watt to score, giving the Trojans an 8-7 edge.
The score remained tight until the sixth inning when Newberry evened things at 8-8. Mount Olive regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh when Garrett Moffett executed a perfectly placed bunt single to score Watt and make it 9-8.
However, Newberry answered again in the eighth inning before plating the winning run in the top of the ninth on an RBI single up the middle.
Mount Olive utilized five pitchers in the contest. Pete Honse took the loss (2-1) after allowing the go-ahead run in the ninth inning. Kole Hopkins contributed two scoreless innings, while Mike Walsh struck out three batters across two innings of work.
Despite the setback, the Trojans will look to bounce back this weekend when they host King University in the opening game of their weekend series Friday at 4:00 p.m.
