MURFREESBORO, N.C. (April 12) – The University of Mount Olive softball team totaled 23 runs on 25 hits, including four homers, to earn a doubleheader sweep on the road against Chowan on Friday afternoon in Conference Carolinas action.
With the sweep, the Trojans improve to 32-11 overall behind a 13-5 mark in league play. Mount Olive completes a season sweep over Chowan and boasts a 7-3 divisional record in the conference standings. Meanwhile, the Hawks drop to 6-27 this season with a 2-16 record in league action.
In Game 1, UMO established an early 1-0 advantage in the top of the first inning before Chowan brought across three runs in the bottom half of the frame, 3-1. In the top of the third, senior
Kylie Emanuele laced an RBI double to left field before sophomore
Emily Cassidy delivered an inside-the-park grand slam to build a 6-3 advantage. Freshman
Laci Best added to the lead in the fourth with a two-run homer to center field, her ninth of the season, to hold an 8-3 edge.
In the top of the fifth, senior
Lark Collins belted a leadoff solo homer to left field before senior
Adrianna Efird produced a pinch-hit RBI single down the right-field line, 10-3. Chowan cut the deficit to 10-6 in the bottom half of the inning with a three-run double. The Hawks closed the gap to 12-7 in the sixth with an RBI single to center field, but senior
Courtlynn Cooney responded with a two-run double to right-center in the seventh, 12-7.
Emanuele finished 3-for-4 with one RBI, and two stolen bases while Cooney went 2-for-3 with two RBI, two runs scored, one walk, and two stolen bases.
Sophomore
Bri Verme earned the win (8-3) after yielding six earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts in 5.0 innings pitched (98 pitches). Senior
Hannah Killough closed out the final 2.0 innings while recording three strikeouts.
In Game 2, the Trojans established a 1-0 lead in the top of the third before totaling 10 runs on seven hits in the fourth frame. Senior
Carly Curcio delivered an RBI bunt single before senior
Cana Shrock blasted a three-run homer to left field, 5-0. Later in the inning, Best laced an RBI double up the middle before UMO scored on a catcher's interference and a bases-loaded walk, 8-0. In her second at-bat of the frame, Curcio recorded an RBI on bases-loaded hit-by-pitch before Shrock posted a two-run double to build an 11-0 lead.
Cooney went 4-for-4 with one run scored and one stolen base while Shrock finished 3-for-3 with a homer, five RBI, and two runs scored.
Junior
Callie Thornton improved to 14-2 in the circle after tossing a two-hit complete-game shutout with four strikeouts and one walk in 5.0 innings (68 pitches). She retired the side in order three times while facing 16 batters.
Mount Olive returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, April 13, for a doubleheader against UNC Pembroke on Senior Day, starting at noon.
