WILSON, N.C. (April 12) – Junior Hannah Killough delivered a 10-strikeout performance on Wednesday afternoon, as the Trojans split a doubleheader at Barton in Conference Carolinas play, registering a 2-1 extra-innings win in Game 1 before falling by a 7-3 margin in Game 2.

With the split, the University of Mount Olive softball team holds a 21-15 record with a 10-6 mark in conference action. The Trojans remain sixth in the Conference Carolinas standings with three series left in the regular season. Meanwhile, Barton stands at 17-19 this season behind an 8-8 record in league play.

In Game 1, Killough improved to 11-6 in the circle, tossing a 9.0-inning complete game win after surrendering one run on seven hits with 10 strikeouts and one walk against the Bulldogs. She has tallied double-digit strikeouts in four contests while ranking third in the Conference Carolinas with 125 strikeouts this year. Killough also forced 10 flyouts and seven groundouts after facing 35 batters on Wednesday.

After seven scoreless innings, the opening game entered extra-innings with the international tiebreaker in place. Freshman Emily Cassidy started the eighth on second before advancing to third on a popout to center field. With one out, junior Courtlynn Cooney laced an RBI single to left field to take a 1-0 advantage. In the bottom half, Barton tied the contest at 1-1 following a sacrifice fly to left field to stretch the game into the ninth. Junior Adrianna Efird started the inning on second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. During the next at-bat, Efird scored on a wild pitch to record the eventual game-winning run, 2-1.

Cooney and sophomore Alyssa Smothers finished 2-for-4 at the plate in the win.

In Game 2, Cooney led off the top of the first with a double to right field before advancing to third with a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, junior Kylie Emanuele registered an RBI double to center field to take an early 1-0 advantage. After a scoreless second frame, the Trojans added the lead with a two-run homer by Emanuele, her ninth of the season, to extend the lead to 3-0. In the bottom of the third, Barton scored five runs on four hits, highlighted by a three-run homer to claim a 5-3 edge. The Bulldogs stretched the advantage with two additional runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run double to hold a 7-3 lead. The Trojans left three runners on base in the final four frames, including one in scoring position.

Cooney went 3-for-4 with one run scored, while Emanuele finished 2-for-4 with a homer, three RBI, and one run scored.

Senior Lauren King suffered the loss (5-5) after yielding five runs (four earned) on six hits with one strikeout and two walks in 2.2 innings. Sophomore Callie Thornton pitched the final 3.1 innings after scattering six hits with two runs surrendered and three strikeouts.

The Trojans return home on Saturday, April 15, when they host UNC Pembroke in a conference doubleheader at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field at noon.