Mount Olive's Robbin Kennedy delivered three hits and drove in a pair of runs and pitcher Christie Wright tossed a five-hitter as the Trojans remained undefeated with a 9-1 win in the opening game of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field. In the nightcap, freshman pitcher Lauren Smith tied a school record with 13 strikeouts, and the Trojans scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to complete the sweep 12-9.
The wins mark the first time Mount Olive has started a season 4-0 since 2006.
In the opener, the Trojans scored three runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back. With two outs and a runner on first, Kennedy slugged the first of her three hits, an RBI-double to the center field fence. Rebekah McDaniel followed with an RBI-double of her own, then raced home on an errant throw.
With the Trojans ahead, 3-1 in the third, Katie Moore and Kennedy led off with back-to-back doubles, then McDaniel and Nicole Taliercio singled to bring home two more. The four-run cushion was more than enough support for Christie Wright (1-0) who held the Lakers to five hits.
Mount Olive added a single run in the fifth when Anna Munizza was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Then in the sixth, three runs ended the game. An error and singles by Kennedy, Taliercio, DeVenuto, followed by Kalie Smith's walk-off sacrifice fly brought home the winner.
In game two, Smith (2-0) worked her way out of trouble for three innings, and her teammates built a 2-1 lead on RBI-singles by Katie Moore and Rebekah McDaniel in the first. She struck out two in each of the first four innings. In the top of the fourth, the Lakers pulled even with a solo homer by Emily Redig.
Mount Olive was on the verge of another run-rule victory when the Trojans sent 11 batters to the plate in the bottom of the fourth. McDaniel was hit by a pitch and pinch-runner Danielle Mitchell raced to third on Wright's double to left. Taliercio singled home the first run, then DeVenuto reached on an error that led to five more runs, all unearned.
Munizza and Kennedy singled, Moore was hit by a pitch, then McDaniel cleared the bases with a three-run double to center.
Mercyhurst relief pitcher Cherise Gunnell (0-1) managed to hold the Trojans from further damage to keep the game going. When the Lakers came to bat in the fifth, they had a seven-run lead to overcome.
This time it was a Mount Olive error that opened the door to a big inning. The Lakers batted around, scoring four unearned runs. A dropped fly ball allowed one run to score, then a fielder's choice cut the lead to 9-4. Catcher Shaina Bunker and second baseman Redig then delivered two-out singles to trim the lead to 9-6.
Smith continued to pile up strikeouts despite the Laker offense. In the sixth, she was a strike away from escaping another jam. With runners on second and third with no outs, she struck out Courtney Smith, then got Bower to line out. Bunker brought home a pair, however with a double off the left-field wall. She raced home moments later on a game-tying single to right by Redig.
In the bottom of the sixth, Mount Olive went ahead for good. A double by Overman and a walk to Moore, followed by a wild pitch, put two runners in scoring position with no outs. Kennedy drove in her fourth run of the contest with a double to left, and McDaniel followed with an infield single. Two outs later, the Trojans' bench came through. Kassie Lowe kept the inning alive with a walk, then fellow pinch-hitter Jennifer Jones singled to right for a 12-9 lead.
In the seventh, Smith struck out Sauers for her 13th strikeout, matching the school record held by Shauna Cowdry and Jenny Jackson during the 2007 season, and Tiffanie Pittman in 2006.
The Trojans return to action Sunday with a doubleheader against Wingate. First pitch at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field is 1 p.m.
