BRISTOL, Tenn. (April 20) – The Trojan offense was limited to a combined nine hits on Thursday afternoon in a pair of losses in a doubleheader at King in Conference Carolinas play, suffering a 5-0 defeat in Game 1 before falling by a 7-4 margin in Game 2.

With the losses, the University of Mount Olive softball team drops to 23-17 this season behind a 12-8 mark in conference action. The Tornado has  won the previous four meetings between the sides, while the Trojans close the regular season tomorrow at Lees-McRae. Meanwhile, King improves to 29-20 overall with a 14-6 record in league play.

In Game 1, UMO escaped a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the first before the Tornado broke through in the second frame with back-to-back RBI singles and scored on an error to take a 3-0 lead. Following a scoreless third inning, King added to its advantage with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, including an RBI double to right-center, 5-0. Mount Olive had its best scoring opportunity in the sixth when they left runners on the corners to end the inning.

Junior Hannah Killough suffered the loss (12-7) despite throwing a complete game on Thursday in Tennessee. She surrendered five earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and one walk issued in 6.0 innings pitched.

In Game 2, junior Courtlynn Cooney led off the contest with an infield single before advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. With one out, fellow junior Kylie Emanuele delivered an RBI single up the middle before freshman Bri Verme laced an RBI double to right-center to take a 2-0 edge. In the bottom half, the Tornado responded with six runs on five hits, highlighted by a three-run homer and a two-run home run to capture a 6-2 lead. In the top of the second, junior Cana Shrock drew a leadoff walk before eventually advancing to third after King loaded the bases. During the next at-bat, Shrock crossed the plate on a wild pitch to cut into the deficit, 6-3.

The Trojans attempted to close the gap in the third after back-to-back singles to start the inning. With one out, the base runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch before consecutive outs ended the threat. In the bottom half, the Tornado scored another run on an RBI bunt single to third base, 7-3. In the top of the fifth, Emanuele launched a solo homer to left-center field, her 10th of the season, to trim the deficit to 7-4. Mount Olive would strand two more runners in scoring position in the top of the sixth, as King sealed the doubleheader sweep.

Emanuele finished 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBI, two runs scored, and a stolen base, while Verme went 2-for-4 with one RBI in the loss.

Sophomore Callie Thornton was saddled with the loss (3-4) after yielding six earned runs on four hits with two walks over 0.2 inning. Verme pitched effectively in relief, scattering four hits with one earned run and two strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched.

The Trojans conclude the regular season tomorrow, Friday, April 21, when they travel to face Lees-McRae in Conference Carolinas action with the doubleheader, beginning at 1 p.m.