Box Score GASTONIA – Jonathan Barham's RBI single with one out in the bottom of the 10^th inning plated pinch runner Kasen McCawley with the game-winning run as the third-seeded and 19^th-ranked UNC Pembroke baseball team edged fourth-seeded and 14^th-ranked Mount Olive, 5-4, in the Conference Carolinas Tournament opener for both teams on Thursday afternoon at CaraMont Health Park.
 
The Braves (37-13) now advance through to Friday's winner's bracket contest against the winner of Thursday afternoon's contest between second-seeded Barton and fifth-seeded Belmont Abbey. Thursday's result marked UNCP's third win in five days over the Trojans (32-15) who will play an elimination contest on Friday.
 
Trent Harris (7-3) scattered four hits and struck out two batters in four innings of relief work to rake in the win for the Braves. Southpaw reliever Chase Jernigan was key for the Black & Gold from the hill as well, striking out a pair of Trojans and surrendering just one hit in 3-2/3 innings of work.
 

GAME SUMMARY
FINAL SCORE	UNC Pembroke 5, Mount Olive 4 (10 Innings)
PITCHERS	WP: Trent Harris (6-3) LP: Hayden Myrick (3-2) Save: None
RECORDS	UNC Pembroke 37-13; Mount Olive 32-15

KEY INNINGS
BOT 3	The Braves loaded the bases with their first three at-bats and pushed across a trio of runs to retake the lead. Ethan Ott hit a bases-loaded single to bring in a pair of runs and give the Black & Gold a 3-2 advantage, and Spencer Faulkner cashed in on a 2-out RBI single to make it a 4-2 game.
TOP 8	Jack Casbarro drew a walk to lead off the eighth, and then moved all the way to third base via a groundout and a wild pitch. However, the short game was not needed as J.T. Stone blasted a 1-out homer over the fence in right field to knot the score up.
BOT 8	UNCP got 1-out base hits from both Kody O'Connor (single) and Spencer Faulkner (double) to quickly put a pair of runners into scoring position, and then juiced the bases when Mount Olive opted to issue an intentional walk to Joey Rezek. Reliever Hayden Myrick got the Trojans out of trouble, however, by inducing an infield fly and then tacking up a rally-ending strikeout.
BOT 10	Kody O'Connor singled to lead off the home half of the 10th, and then gave way to pinch runner Kasen McCawley who used his speed to move all the way around to third base with none gone. Trent Harris drew a walk to load the bases for the Black & Gold, and Jonathan Barham delivered the rest of the goods when he hammered Hayden Myrick's 2-strike offering down the left field line.

UNCP LEADERS	UMO LEADERS
Christian Jayne 3-5, 2 2B, 2 R Kody O'Connor 3-5 2B, RBI Spencer Faulkner 2-5, 2B, RBI Chase Jernigan 3.2 IP, H, 2 K	Vito Patierno 2-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI J.T. Stone 2-5, HR, 2 RBI Alden Cottle 2-4 Jack Casbarro 1-4, BB, R

 

UP NEXT

The Braves (37-13) now advance through to Friday's winner's bracket contest against the winner of Thursday afternoon's contest between second-seeded Barton and fifth-seeded Belmont Abbey.

 

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BACK THE BRAVES

Fans can help support the UNC Pembroke Baseball program by joining the Braves Club, or by making a gift directly to the program. To find out more information about the Braves Club, visit UNCPBraves.com/BravesClub or email braves.club@uncp.edu. To make a monetary gift, visit UNCPBraves.com/Give and indicate "baseball team" in notes section.