MOUNT OLIVE (Feb. 14) – The University of Mount Olive softball program recorded a run-rule victory with nine stolen bases on Friday in a split of non-conference games, including a 10-1 win over Winston-Salem State and a 7-5 loss to No. 25 Kutztown at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field.
With the split, the Trojans move to 4-5 overall after competing at home for eight of their initial 10 contests of the season. Mount Olive has played in seven games in 2025 decided by two runs or fewer with a trio of one-run wins.
Against Winston-Salem State (2-2), Mount Olive opened up a 3-0 advantage in the bottom of the first after scoring on a pair of groundouts before freshman
Emily Saw registered an RBI single in the infield to complete the three-run frame. The Rams tallied a run in the top of the second on an RBI single to trail by a 3-1 margin.
The Trojans added to the lead in the bottom half with an RBI single through the right side by sophomore
McKenzie Millard before a pair of runners scored later in the inning following a single to left field by freshman
Brittany Stephens, 6-1. Following a scoreless third, Stephens laced a two-run single up the middle to stretch the lead to 8-1 in the fourth. Mount Olive registered the run-rule win in the fifth off a two-run single up the middle by junior
Samantha Taylor.
Millard went 2-for-3 with one RBI, three runs scored, three stolen bases, and one walk. Stephens finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs while freshman
Sophia Gleim tallied two hits and two runs scored.
Junior
Bri Verme earned the win (1-2) after yielding one unearned run on three hits with two strikeouts and one walk in 4.0 innings pitched (55 pitches).
Against Kutztown (7-0), the Trojans jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the second behind four hits while taking advantage of an error. The inning was highlighted by an RBI single to right-center by freshman
Liz Thome and a two-run single by Stephens.
The Golden Bears countered with a solo homer to left field in the top of the third before totaling five runs on four hits in the top of the fourth, 6-5. Kutztown added an insurance run in the fifth with an RBI double to ultimately secure the 7-5 victory.
Freshman
Linda Hodge (1-2) suffered the loss after surrendering six runs (four earned) on six hits with one walk in 3.1 innings pitched.
UMO will face Kutztown and Winston-Salem State tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 15, with the first pitch scheduled for 10 a.m.
