MURFREESBORO, N.C. (March 14) – Freshman right-handed pitcher
Linda Hodge tossed two complete games with 15 total strikeouts on Friday afternoon, as the University of Mount Olive softball team split a doubleheader at Chowan with a 4-1 loss in Game 1 before a 4-0 shutout win in Game 2.
With the split, the Trojans move to 11-13 overall with a 1-3 mark in league play following the opening week of Conference Carolinas action. Mount Olive holds a 19-5 record in the series with Chowan dating back to 2014, including winning 12 of the last 14 matchups. Meanwhile, the Hawks stand at 10-13 this season behind a 1-1 record in conference action.
In Game 1, Chowan established a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the first following a pair of RBI bunt singles. After being held scoreless over the initial two frames, the Trojans got on the board in the top of the third. Sophomore
McKenzie Millard reached base on a fielding error before advancing to second on a stolen base. With one out, freshman
Leah Russell delivered a single, allowing Millard to advance to third and eventually score on a throwing error, 2-1.
The Hawks answered with a solo homer to left-center in the bottom of the third before adding an insurance run in the fifth with another solo homer, 4-1.
Hodge suffered the loss (5-5) after yielding four earned runs on seven hits while recording a career-high 11 strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work.
In Game 2, the Trojans totaled three runs on two hits in the top of the second inning to register a three-run advantage. Freshman
Emily Saw reached base on fielder's choice before scoring during the next at-bat following a fielding error, 1-0. With two outs, Millard produced an RBI single through the left side with the bases loaded before junior
Samantha Taylor recorded an RBI after drawing a walk, 3-0.
Mount Olive extended the lead in the top of the fifth, as freshman Brittney Stephens delivered a solo homer to left field, her team-leading fourth of the year.
Hodge earned the win (6-5) following her second complete-game shutout of the season. She surrendered zero runs on four hits with four strikeouts and one walk in 7.0 innings pitched.
UMO returns to Conference Carolinas play on Wednesday, March 19, with a doubleheader at Barton at 1 p.m.
