Mount Olive, N.C. - The University of Mount Olive softball team split a doubleheader against Barton College at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field; taking game one 3-1 and falling in game two 7-5 Tuesday night. UMO now improves to 29-7, 10-2 on the season. The Trojans also broke a nine-year school record in game two.
GAME ONE INFORMATION
The opening game was a pitching duel as the two squads combined for five hits through the first 3 1/2 innings.
The Trojan half of the fourth provided some excitement as
Kylie Emanuele drew a lead-off walk. The next play saw Emanuele score on a fielder's choice that included two Bulldog errors, and UMO took the lead.
Mount Olive had another scoring opportunity in the fifth as back-to-back singles by
Courtlynn Cooney and
Megan Bryant set the table for
Madison Morgan. Morgan then advanced her teammates with a well executed sacrifice bunt. Emanuele pulled a ball down the left field line and plated Cooney and Bryant to increase the UMO lead to 3-0.
The school in Wilson was granted a run in the final inning on a solo home run, but one run was all they got as Mount Olive took the 3-1 victory.
TROJAN LEADERS
Emanuele led the Trojans with two RBI off a 1-1 day including two walks.
Hannah Killough (14-4) went the complete game earning the win, allowing one run off five hits and a season-high 12 strikeouts.
GAME TWO INFORMATION
In game two the Bulldogs came out alive lifting a two-run home run in the first to take the early lead. They added a third run in the second and held the lead until the third.
Cooney started the UMO half of the third with a single up the middle. With two outs Emanuele drew a walk to put wo runners on.
Cassandra Lassiter then came up to make the biggest swing of the night.
On a 1-2 count the Pikeville, N.C. native belted a shot over the left center field fence and tied the game at three. The home run broke the UMO Softball team record for home runs in a season (36) set back in 2013.
Cana Shrock added to the record night with her solo home run in the fourth giving Mount Olive a one-run lead. Two innings later Bryant scored the fifth run for UMO.
The seventh inning proved to be the turning point as the Bulldogs ran Trojan reliever
Hannah Killough out of gas. Killough after a complete game 119 pitch performance in game one, was called upon in game two. The 189th pitch proved to be the final straw as a two-run RBI single gave BC the 7-5 lead topping off a four-run seventh.
Mount Olive was able to get a runner on in the seventh but was not able to tie the game and fell.
TROJAN LEADERS
Lassiter led UMO with her record home run and three RBI in game two.
Killough (14-5) was pinned with the loss in relief going four complete surrendering four runs off three hits and struck out one.
ON DECK
The Trojans hit the road against North Greenville April 1 in Tigerville, S.C. at 2/4 p.m. Friday.
