MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. — In a game that resembled a home run derby more than a traditional baseball matchup, the University of Mount Olive baseball team outlasted King University 9–8 on Friday afternoon at Scarborough Field.
With the win, Mount Olive improves to 20–18 overall and 13–12 in Conference Carolinas play, while King falls to 12–28 overall and 9–16 in league action.
King struck first in the opening inning, capitalizing on a Mount Olive error before stringing together back-to-back RBI doubles to take a 2–0 lead.
Mount Olive answered quickly in the bottom of the second when Garrett Moffett delivered a game-tying blast. After Jakhari Howard reached on an error and stole second, Moffett launched his eighth home run of the season to right field, evening the score at 2–2.
The Trojans seized control in the third with a four-run inning fueled by aggressive baserunning and timely hitting. With the bases loaded, Mount Olive scored twice on a throwing error before Moffett added more damage with a two-run triple down the right-field line—his third triple of the year—giving the Trojans a 6–2 advantage.
King answered in the seventh when Logan Janney hit a three-run home run to cut the lead to 6–5 and swing momentum back to the visitors.
But Mount Olive responded immediately in the bottom half. Josh Mason reached base before Rowan Watt ripped an RBI double down the left-field line—his 18th double of the season, tying him for the national lead. Moments later, Malachi Gales crushed a two-run home run to left field, his eighth of the year, pushing the lead to 9–5.
King refused to go quietly, adding two more runs in the eighth on another Janney home run. In the ninth, the Tornado loaded the bases and brought the tying run into scoring position before Mount Olive turned to reliever Gabe Adams. Adams induced a game-ending double play to earn his first save of the season.
On the mound, Carson Gipson worked 6.2 innings, allowing five runs while striking out eight to earn his sixth win of the year.
The Trojans will look to build on the win as they close out the Conference Carolinas series Saturday with games scheduled for noon and 3 p.m
