MOUNT OLIVE (Feb. 18) – Senior
Kylie Emanuele totaled eight RBIs for the Trojan offense on Sunday afternoon to complete a perfect 4-0 weekend in round-robin play with a 10-2 run-rule win over West Liberty in Game 1 before defeating USC Beaufort by an 8-4 margin in Game 2.
With the victories, the University of Mount Olive softball team stretches its winning streak to six straight and improves to 12-2 overall behind an 8-0 mark in round-robin competition this season. The Trojans will now prepare for six consecutive road games next week before beginning a 14-game homestand on March 2.
Against West Liberty (0-4), Mount Olive stranded a pair of runners in the first and second frames before scoring four runs on three hits in the bottom half of the third. Senior
Cana Shrock produced an RBI on a sacrifice fly in the left field before freshman
Laci Best belted a solo homer to left field, her third of the season, to take a 2-0 edge. Later in the frame, junior
Alyssa Smothers registered an RBI on a triple to left-center and the Trojans brought across another run on an error during the following at-bat, 4-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, UMO loaded the bases with an error and a pair of walks before Emanuele launched a grand slam down the left-field line, her fifth homer of the season, to extend the lead to 8-0. The Hilltoppers responded in the top of the fifth with a pair of runs to cut the deficit to 8-2. The Trojans sealed the run-rule victory on the bottom of the fifth after Emanuele laced a two-run single up the middle with the bases loaded, 10-2.
Emanuele finished 2-for-3 with six RBIs, two runs scored, and one walk, while senior
Emma Mooney tallied a pair of hits and two runs scored.
In the circle, senior
Hannah Killough captured the victory (5-1) after surrendering two runs on four hits with six strikeouts in 4.1 innings. Sophomore
Bri Verme collected the final two outs of the game in relief.
Against USC Beaufort (9-3), the Trojans leaped ahead by a 4-0 margin in the top of the first after Shrock and senior
Carly Curcio each delivered two-run doubles. Following two scoreless frames, the Sand Sharks responded with three runs on four hits in the top of the fourth, highlighted by a three-run homer to left-center. UMO countered with a run in the bottom half of the inning after scoring on a throwing error, 5-3.
USC Beaufort once again trimmed the deficit to one run following a fielder's choice in the fifth before the Trojans answered back with three runs in the bottom half of the frame. Senior
Courtlynn Cooney laced an RBI single up the middle before Emanuele drove in a pair of runs on a single through the left side, 8-4. Mount Olive stranded a USCB runner on base in the sixth before retiring the side in order in the seventh to collect the win.
Cooney finished 2-for-3 with one RBI, one walk, and two runs scored, while Mooney went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two stolen bases.
Junior
Callie Thornton earned the victory (4-1) after allowing four earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks over 4.0 innings of work. Verme made her second appearance of the day and collected a save (1) after tossing 3.0 innings of scoreless relief.
The Trojans return to the field on Thursday, Feb. 22, for a non-conference doubleheader at Winston-Salem State, starting at 1 p.m.
