MOUNT OLIVE (Feb. 5) – After scoring a season-high 11 runs in Game 2 on Wednesday, the Trojans registered a split in a non-conference doubleheader against Coker at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field with a 5-3 loss in Game 1 before an 11-10 extra-innings win in Game 2.
With the split, the University of Mount Olive softball program stands at 2-4 overall after opening its season with six straight home games. The Trojans are set to make their first road trip down to Georgia for a doubleheader at Augusta on Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, Coker moves to 1-3 this season with all four games against Conference Carolinas opponents.
In Game 1, the Cobras jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage after tallying three hits and capitalizing on a fielding error in the top of the first. After two scoreless frames, Coker added to its lead with an RBI single in the fourth before the Trojans countered with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. Mount Olive totaled four singles with junior
Zoe Thornsbury and freshman
Liz Thome each driving in a run, 4-2.
Mount Olive trimmed the deficit to 4-3 in the fifth with an RBI single from sophomore
Laci Best before the Trojans entered the final inning down by one run. The Cobras tallied an insurance run with a two-out RBI double to lead 5-3 in the seventh. UMO managed to get two runners into scoring position with two outs but could not score.
Freshman
Linda Hodge delivered another solid performance out of the bullpen after surrendering just two earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts and zero walks in 6.0 innings.
In Game 2, the Trojans jumped ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first off a two-run single from freshman
Brittany Stephens. Coker countered with one run in the top of the second before UMO scored three in the bottom half to take a four-run advantage. Junior
Samantha Taylor and Stephens recorded an RBI single while Best delivered a sacrifice fly, 5-1.
The Cobras trimmed the deficit in the fourth frame with a two-run double to right-center with two outs, 5-3. Taylor stepped up in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI triple to left-center to extend the lead to 6-3. Following a scoreless fifth, Coker rallied with five runs on five hits in the sixth inning to go ahead by an 8-6 margin. UMO answered with a two-out RBI double from Thornsbury in the sixth and Taylor in the seventh to send the contest to extra innings, 8-8.
Both sides scored in the eighth before the Cobras carried a 10-9 edge into the bottom of the ninth. Mount Olive loaded the bases to begin the frame before Taylor once again came through in the clutch with a two-run single just over the out-stretched arm of the right fielder to win the game, 11-10.
Taylor finished the contest 4-for-5 with five RBI, two runs scored, one stolen base, and one walk. Stephens went 2-for-2 with three RBI while Thornsbury and senior
Alyssa Smothers each registered a pair of hits.
Freshman
Hailey King (2-1) earned the win after tossing 1.0 inning of relief with one run allowed on two hits. Junior
Cayden Sutton produced another effective relief appearance after yielding one run on two hits in 2.2 innings of work.
UMO is set to hit the road for a doubleheader at Augusta on Sunday, Feb. 9, starting at 1 p.m.
