Two days later than expected, the Mount Olive softball team finally took to the field Tuesday afternoon against UNC Pembroke. Junior pitcher Christie Wright started what she finished in the opener, slamming a two-run homer with one out in the bottom of the seventh to give the Trojans a 6-4 non-conference victory at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field. In the nightcap, freshman Lauren Smith retired the first 13 batters she faced, then worked her way out of jams in the final three frames to get the 2-1 victory.
In game one, Wright started on the mound for the Trojans (1-0) and held the visiting Braves to just one hit through the first four innings. After the Braves rallied to tie the game with four in the top of the fourth, she gave way to reliever Carly White (1-0). White shutout the Braves the rest of the way.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Trojans' Katie Moore led off with a double off the left field fence. One out later, Wright pinch-hit for White and slammed a pitch from UNC Pembroke starter Jamie Burwell (0-1) over the left-centerfield wall to end the game.
Mount Olive struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Elizabeth Overman reached on a passed ball to get things started. After a fielder's choice, Rebekah McDaniel slammed an two-run double and Wright followed with a run-scoring single for a 2-0 lead.
In the third, Mount Olive extended its lead to 3-0. Jesse Crist led off with a double to left, then raced home on a two-out RBI-single by McDaniel down the right field line. An inning later, Overman delivered another two-out RBI with a single to right.
UNC Pembroke showed little sign of life offensively against Wright heading to the top of the fifth. Wright allowed just one hit and a walk so far and retired 10 consecutive batters. That soon changed. A lead-off walk to Kristen Hobbs was followed by a long double by Brea Hartley to bring home the first run. Karlee Wilson then slammed a long home run over the left field fence for her first home run of the season, cutting the Trojan lead to 4-3. After a walk to Ashley Harrell, Kaylee Wilson singled to right to tie the game.
White came on in relief and got Megan Hilliard to line into a double play to end the rally.
Both teams threatened to break the tie before the climactic end. In the sixth, Hartley delivered a two-out triple, but the Braves were unable to capitalize. In the bottom of the frame, Mount Olive got a one-out triple from Nicole Taliercio, but Burwell coaxed a popout to short center, then got a strikeout to end the inning.
In the nightcap, Lauren Smith cruised through the first four innings, striking out six. After a running catch by Wright started the inning, Kristen Hobbs was hit by a pitch for the Braves' first base-runner. Moments later, Karlee Wilson beat out a bunt for the first hit. One out later, UNC Pembroke broke up the shutout when Taylor Cloninger's fly ball was misplayed for an error. Smith worked her way out of further trouble by striking out Harrell.
The Braves threatened again in the sixth without a ball hit out of the infield, when Kaytee Wilson reached on an infield single and Hartley was safe on an error. After Hilliard struck out, everybody was safe on Holly Berry's grounder. With the bases loaded and only one out, Smith struck out Hobbs and Karlee Wilson to save the lead.
In the seventh, Wright gave up a one-out single to Cloninger, who then stole second base to get into scoring position. Smith struck out Harrell, then Kaytee Wilson grounded out to end the game.
Smith (1-0) finished with a complete game three-hitter, striking out 12.
Mount Olive took the lead in the bottom of the first when Anna Munnizza was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a single by Robbin Kennedy, then scored on McDaniel's two-out RBI-single.
In the third, the Trojans struck again. Overman doubled to the right field fence, then scored on a single to left by Moore.
