MOUNT OLIVE (March 18) – Junior Kylie Emanuele delivers a walk-off single in Game 2, as the Trojans split a doubleheader versus North Greenville on Saturday afternoon in Conference Carolinas action, suffering a 6-3 loss in Game 1 before producing a 12-11 extra-innings win in Game 2.

With the split, the University of Mount Olive softball team holds a 13-11 overall record with a 2-2 mark in conference play. The Trojans hold a 4-2 record in the series dating back to 2021, while the sides have split the doubleheader in consecutive years. Meanwhile, North Greenville sits at 13-15 this season behind a 1-3 mark in league action.

In Game 2, Mount Olive jumped ahead early with a 4-0 lead after sophomore Alyssa Smothers brought in the opening run a ground out in the top of the first. With one out, junior Cana Shrock laced a triple to right field before a hit-by-pitch put runners on the corners. Freshman Bri Verme followed with an RBI single before junior Kylie Emanuele hit a sacrifice fly to right field. Freshman Kaylee Taylor registered a two-out RBI double down the right-field line to close out a four-run frame. 

In the bottom of the third, Verme extended the lead on a solo homer to center field, her second of the season, 5-0. The Crusaders cut into the deficit in the top of the fourth on a sacrifice fly before UMO scored four more runs in the bottom half. The inning was highlighted by a two-run homer by junior Ashlyn Porter, her fourth of the year, and an RBI triple by Emanuele to take a 9-1 advantage. North Greenville closed the gap in the fifth with a three-run homer to right field before Smothers produced an RBI single to right-center to hold a 10-4 edge. The Crusaders rallied in the seventh to tie the contest at 10-10 after scoring six runs on two hits. With the international tiebreaker set in extra innings, each team scored in the eighth before a scoreless ninth. In the bottom of the tenth with two outs, Emanuele delivered a walk-off single up the middle to score Shrock from second, 12-11.

Junior Courtlynn Cooney finished 4-for-5 with three runs scored, one walk, and six stolen bases, while Verme went 4-for-6 with a homer, three RBI, and two runs scored. Emanuele tallied three hits, three RBI, one walk, and a stolen base.

Verme earned the win (2-1) after tossing 1.0 innings of scoreless relief with one hit surrendered. Senior Lauren King received a no-decision after yielding five runs (four earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts in 8.1 innings.

In Game 1, North Greenville established a 1-0 lead in the top of first on a sacrifice fly before a pair of scoreless innings by both teams. The Crusaders stretch their advantage to 4-0 in the top of the fourth on a three-run homer. In the bottom half, Emanuele hit an RBI double to right-center to cut into the deficit, 4-1. Heading to the bottom of the sixth, Emanuele delivered again with a solo homer to left field, as the Trojans trailed 4-2. North Greenville responded with a pair of RBI singles to extend the lead back to four runs, 6-2. Porter registered an RBI single in the seventh before UMO left the bases loaded to finish the game, 6-3.

Junior Hannah Killough was dealt the loss (7-4) after allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits with five walks and two strikeouts in 3.1 innings.

The Trojans return to action on Tuesday, March 21, when they hit the road for Conference Carolinas play at Francis Marion, starting at 4 p.m.