MOUNT OLIVE (Feb. 6) – Junior pitcher Hannah Killough tossed a 6.0-inning no-hitter and set the school record with 15 strikeouts, as the Trojans opened the season with a pair of run-rule victories against Winston-Salem State, posting an 8-0 shutout win in Game 1 before putting on an offensive display in a 17-0 victory in Game 2 at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field.
With the wins, the University of Mount Olive softball team begins the year with a 2-0 record after sharing the top spot in the preseason Conference Carolinas poll released last month. Meanwhile, the Rams drop to 0-2 this season after being selected sixth in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) preseason rankings.
Killough tossed her third career no-hitter to tie Shauna Cowdrey (2004-07) for the all-time school record. In Game 1, she set a new school record with 15 strikeouts after tossing 6.0 innings against the Rams. The reigning Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Year, Killough faced a total of 20 batters while striking out the side three times on 91 pitches in the win.
Junior first baseman Cana Shrock delivered her first career multi-homer game after finishing 3-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored. Fellow junior designated player Carly Curcio went 2-for-3 from the plate with a pair of RBIs and two runs scored, while freshman second baseman Emily Cassidy also went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
UMO opened the scoring in the first when junior center fielder Courtlynn Cooney and Cassidy each reached base on singles. After a pop-out and a runner caught stealing at third base, Curcio laced a single to right center to put UMO ahead 1-0. Shrock followed with a massive two-run blast over the left-center field fence to increase the lead to 3-0 in the first inning. After a scoreless second, the Trojans registered back-to-back singles with one out before Curcio ripped a double to center field to score Cassidy from second base, 4-0. Shrock stepped up to the plate and once again hit a bomb to left field for her second home run of the day to stretch the lead to 6-0 in the third.
In the bottom of the sixth, sophomore shortstop Olivia Reardon smacked a double to center field before scoring a one-out single from sophomore left fielder Alyssa Smothers, 7-0. Following a pair of wild pitches and a walk, Smothers advanced home on a throwing error after a stolen base by freshman Olivia Castillo to seal the 8-0 run-rule win.
In Game 2, Mount Olive erupted for 17 runs on 19 hits with five different players collecting multi-hit games. Reardon went four-of-four with a two-run homer, five RBI, and three runs scored, while Curcio finished three-of-four with three RBI and two runs scored. Cassidy produced a pair of hits with one run scored and junior third baseman Kylie Emanuele tallied two hits, one RBI, and two runs scored on Monday. Smothers also finished with two hits and one RBI against the Rams.
UMO took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first, as Cooney reached base on a throwing error before scoring later on a wild pitch. Emanuele and Shrock delivered consecutive singles with one out before advancing into scoring position with a double steal. With two outs, Reardon registered an RBI single to left field before two runs crossed the plate later in the inning on a dropped fly ball in left field.
In the bottom of the second, the Trojans batted around the lineup with six runs scoring on four multi-base hits, including a two-run homer from Reardon. Mount Olive brought three more runs across the plate in the bottom of the third after a pair of RBI doubles from Curcio and designated player/pitcher junior Caroline White to extend the advantage to 13-0.
UMO scored its final three runs in the bottom of the fourth, as sophomore Meredith Smith belted her first career two-run homer to left-center before Reardon laced an RBI triple to left field to take a commanding 17-0 lead.
White earned the win (1-0) after tossing two scoreless innings in relief with two strikeouts while facing seven batters. Sophomore Callie Thornton registered the start and yielded just one hit with three strikeouts over 2.0 innings, while senior Lauren King recorded 1.0 inning in relief with three strikeouts and two walks.
The Trojans continue their season-opening homestand tomorrow, Feb. 7, when they host Coker of the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) in a doubleheader at 2 p.m.
