MOUNT OLIVE (March 7) – Despite scoring three runs in the final inning, the Trojans had their comeback cut short in a 7-6 loss against Kutztown in non-conference play on Thursday night at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field.
With the loss, the University of Mount Olive softball program falls to 18-7 this season behind a 12-5 mark on its home field. The two sides met for the first time since the 2009 campaign with the Golden Bears posting a 2-0 record in the all-time series. Meanwhile, Kutztown improves to 9-2 overall while boasting a 2-2 record against Conference Carolinas opponents.
The Golden Bears leaped ahead by a 2-0 margin in the top of the first after capitalizing on an infield error. In the bottom half of the frame, Mount Olive responded with a two-run homer to left-center field by senior
Kylie Emanuele, her league-leading 11th of the season, 2-2. Following a pair of scoreless innings, Kutztown regained the advantage with a two-run homer to left field in the fourth before adding another run on a solo homer to center field in the fifth, 5-2. Mount Olive answered back in the bottom of the fifth with a solo blast to left-center from sophomore
Emily Cassidy to close the gap to 5-3.
In the top of the sixth, the Golden Bears delivered another two-run home run to extend the advantage to 7-3. The Trojans rallied in the bottom of the seventh frame and capitalized on a pair of errors to trim the deficit to 7-4. Freshman
Laci Best delivered a sacrifice fly to right field before Emanuele laced an RBI single up the middle to close the gap to 7-6.
Kutztown recorded a ground out on the next play to close out the contest.
Emanuele finished 2-for-3 with a homer, three RBIs, one run scored, and one walk, while senior
Courtlynn Cooney went 2-for-4 with one run scored.
Senior
Hannah Killough suffered the loss (7-3) after surrendering four runs (two earned) on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks over 4.0 innings pitched (60 pitches). Junior
Callie Thornton tossed the final 3.0 innings (51 pitches) and yielded three earned runs on three hits with one strikeout.
The Trojans will return to Nancy Chapman Cassell Field on Thursday, March 14, versus Fayetteville State for a non-conference doubleheader, starting at 3 p.m.
