GAFFNEY, S.C. (Feb. 24) – Senior outfielder
Courtlynn Cooney made history on Saturday afternoon by becoming the all-time leader at Mount Olive with 235 career hits, as the Trojans split a twinbill at Limestone with a 9-0 run-rule win in Game 1 before falling by a 5-2 margin in Game 2.
With the split, the University of Mount Olive softball team holds a 15-3 overall record behind a 5-1 mark on the road. The two sides split the series for the first time since 2016 while the Saints have won five of the previous six meetings. Meanwhile, Limestone moves to 10-4 this season with an 8-2 record against Conference Carolinas opponents.
In Game 1, Cooney eclipsed the all-time hits record with a 2-for-4 performance with one run scored and one stolen base. She sits atop the hits list at UMO after passing Michelle Matthews (1997-2000), who tallied 233 career hits.
Senior
Kylie Emanuele finished 3-for-4 at the plate with a solo homer, two RBIs, and two runs scored. She currently is tied for the UMO all-time record in home runs at 32 alongside Matthews, who set the milestone over two decades ago.
Following a pitching dual through the initial four innings of the contest, the Trojans broke through in the top of the fifth with six runs on four hits, highlighted by three home runs. Cooney and freshman
McKenzie Millard reached base to lead off the frame before fellow freshman
Laci Best blasted a three-run homer to left field, her fourth of the season, to take a 3-0 edge. The next at-bat, Emanuele belted a solo homer to left field, her team-leading eighth, to extend the lead, 4-0. Later in the inning, junior
Olivia Reardon delivered a two-run home run to left field, 6-0.
In the top of the sixth, the Trojans stretched their advantage to 9-0 with an RBI double from Emanuele before senior
Carly Curcio produced a two-run homer to left-center.
Senior
Hannah Killough improved to 6-1 this season in the circle after tossing a complete-game shutout. She yielded just four hits while totaling three strikeouts and two walks over 6.0 innings of work.
In Game 2, the Saints established an early 1-0 advantage after scoring on an RBI groundout in the bottom of the second frame before adding to the lead with a solo homer in the fourth, 2-0. Mount Olive answered in the top of the sixth with a solo home run from junior
Alyssa Smothers to close the gap, 2-1.
In the bottom half of the frame, Limestone tallied three runs on three hits to extend the lead to 5-1 before senior
Cana Shrock launched a homer to left field in the seventh, 5-2.
Sophomore
Bri Verme suffered the loss (3-1) after surrendering two earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts in 5.0 innings.
The Trojans continue with non-conference play tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 25, when they travel to face Catawba in a doubleheader at 1 p.m.
