The top-seeded Mount Olive College baseball team erupted for 20 hits in a 15-1 victory over No. 3 Belmont Abbey College at historic Fleming Stadium in a Conference Carolinas Tournament elimination game. The Trojans improve to 36-9 on the year, while the Crusaders are now 18-23.

Mount Olive, ranked No. 7 and No. 11 nationally in the two NCAA Division II national polls, left the bases loaded in the first inning, but broke out on top 3-0 in the second inning after getting a pair two-out singles by Ryan Faison and Bobby Leeper, a two-run double by Jesse Lancaster, and an RBI single by Jeremy Nowak.

The Trojans posted four more runs in the third inning. Kyle Hinrichs started the scoring with a one-out solo home run to right field, his third of the season. Tyler Smith had a single in the inning, Faison produced an RBI double, and Leeper contributed a sacrifice fly.

Mount Olive collected three more hits and three more runs in the fifth inning followed by two more hits and two more runs in the sixth to take a 12-0 lead.

Belmont Abbey's offense did produce some scoring opportunities, moving at least one runner into scoring position in six of its first seven innings. But Mount Olive pitcher Jackson Massey, a first-team all-conference selection, managed to work his way out of nearly every situation. Massey scattered nine hits, walked one and struck out 12 over 7 1/3 innings in improving his record to 6-1 on the year.

The Crusaders' lone run came in the sixth when Tim Dye tripled with two outs and scored on a wild pitch. Dye had three of Belmont Abbey's nine hits, and Justin Baxley added a pair.

Lancaster had four hits and four RBI to lead the Mount Olive hit parade. Faison also had four hits, while Michael Knox added three hits and Leeper chipped in three RBI.

With the win, Mount Olive advances to a noon game on Sunday against #4 seed Pfeiffer.