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March 29, 2024 2:07 am

Mount Olive climbs to fourth in latest rankings

MOUNT OLIVE – The University of Mount Olive baseball team jumped two slots to fourth in the latest NCAA Division II Southeast regional rankings, which were released on May 10.

The Trojans will be making their 19th appearance in the NCAA Tournament after claiming the Conference Carolinas Championship for the first time since 2017. Mount Olive won four straight elimination games with three run-rule victories to secure the league title. In their five games in the tournament, the Trojan offense totaled 71 hits, 13 home runs and 65 runs scored while hitting at a .397 clip.

The rankings featured all the same teams from the previous week with three squads changing positions ahead of the selection show Sunday, May 14. Defending national champion North Greenville remained the top-ranked team in the region with a 44-8 overall record, including a 41-8 mark against in-region opponents. Newberry (39-10) continued to be second in the rankings and secured its automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after winning the SAC Tournament for the first time since 1999. Belmont Abbey (38-16) remained at three despite an early exit in the league tournament but still holds the fourth-best RPI in the region. Mount Olive (36-15, 33-15) vaulted two positions to fourth, while Columbus State (36-15) and UNC Pembroke (38-15, 35-15) each dropped one slot to fifth and sixth, respectively.

Wingate (32-18) continues at seventh, while Young Harris (38-15) and Georgia Southwestern (32-17) rounded out the latest rankings. In the Peach Belt Conference Tournament, Young Harris and Georgia Southwestern will play a best-of-three series to determine the league champion and the final automatic bid to the regionals.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics