SALISBURY, N.C. — University of Mount Olive baseball standout Josh Mason delivered a historic performance Tuesday night, hitting for the cycle to lead the Trojans to an 8–5 victory over No. 3 Catawba College in non-conference action.
Mason became just the sixth player in program history to accomplish the rare feat and the first Trojan in more than 13 years to hit for the cycle. The last Mount Olive player to achieve the milestone was Mike Mercurio on Feb. 2, 2013, against Lenoir-Rhyne University.
With the win, Mount Olive improved its recent momentum, claiming eight victories in its last 10 games and securing its second win this season over the nationally ranked Indians.
Mason wasted no time igniting the offense. In the top of the first inning, he tripled to right-center and later scored on a passed ball to give the Trojans a 1–0 lead. Catawba answered in the bottom half of the inning to even the score.
Mount Olive regained the advantage in the second inning when Jeremiah McLamb delivered an RBI single. The Trojans extended their lead in the third after Mason doubled down the line, followed by an RBI single from junior Rowan Watt to make it 4–1.
Catawba fought back with runs in the fourth and sixth innings, eventually tying the game at 5–5. But Mason came through again in the seventh inning, launching a go-ahead solo home run to left field to give Mount Olive a 6–5 lead.
Mason completed the historic cycle in the eighth inning with a single, capping off one of the most memorable individual performances in program history.
The Trojans added insurance in the ninth inning as McLamb hit a sacrifice fly to plate a run, and senior Mac James followed with an RBI single up the middle to extend the lead to 8–5.
Gabe Adams earned the win in relief, keeping the Trojans ahead through the sixth inning. Sophomore Kole Hopkins secured the save with three scoreless innings, retiring the side in order in the eighth and striking out four batters to seal the victory.
Mount Olive now turns its attention to the final stretch of the season, preparing for a three-game series against Shorter University, with the first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday.
