HICKORY, N.C. (March 2) – The University of Mount Olive softball program produced a 2-2 record at the Bear Bash II following a doubleheader split on Sunday, capturing a 14-6 run-rule win over Frostburg State before suffering an 8-0 loss to the host Lenoir-Rhyne.
With the split, the Trojans move to 7-9 overall after returning to the field for the first weekend in nearly two weeks. Looking ahead, UMO has six non-conference games on the schedule before opening Conference Carolinas play at Chowan on Friday, March 14.
Against Frostburg State (2-7), the Bobcats jumped in front in the top of the first inning after capitalizing on a fielding error in the infield to take a 1-0 edge. The Trojan offense countered in the bottom half of the frame with five runs on four hits to take a 5-1 lead. Freshman
Emily Saw delivered an RBI single through the left side before fellow freshman
Liz Thome belted a three-run double to left-center. The next at-bat, freshman
Sophia Gleim laced an RBI triple down the right-field line to cap off a high-scoring inning.
After escaping a bases-loaded jam in the top of the second, Mount Olive broke the contest wide-open after scoring eight runs on six hits to take a significant 13-1 advantage. With the bases-loaded with no outs, sophomore
Laci Best registered a two-run single before Saw ripped a two-run double to left-center. The following at-bat, Thome delivered once again with a two-run homer to center field. The Trojans brought across two additional runs later in the frame with a two-run single up the middle from junior
Samantha Taylor.
Frostburg State closed the gap to 13-5 in the top of the third, highlighted by a three-run homer to left field before tallying a run in the top of the fifth to trail by a 13-6 margin. In the bottom half of the fifth, UMO sealed the run-rule win with an RBI double from Best to left field, 14-6.
Thome finished 2-for-3 with a homer, five RBIs, and one run scored. Best and Saw each totaled two hits, three RBIs, and two runs scored, while Taylor went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Freshman
Hailey King (3-2) earned the win after yielding five runs (four earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts in 3.0 innings (66 pitches). Junior
Cayden Sutton closed out the final 2.0 innings in relief, allowing one run on two hits with one strikeout.
Against Lenoir-Rhyne (11-9), the sides remained scoreless following the first inning before the Bears recorded five runs on five hits in the second frame, highlighted by a grand slam, 5-0. Lenoir-Rhyne added to its lead in the bottom half of the fourth with three runs on three hits to go ahead by an 8-0 margin.
Mount Olive attempted to rally in the top of the fifth with a leadoff double by Best before Thome reached base on a walk with one out. The Trojans ultimately left two runners stranded and suffered a run-rule loss, 8-0.
Freshman
Linda Hodge (3-3) suffered the loss after surrendering five runs on five hits with two strikeouts in 2.0 innings pitched (52 pitches). Junior
Bri Verme tossed 2.0 innings in relief, allowing three unearned runs on three hits with one walk.
The Trojans return to the field on Wednesday, March 5, for a non-conference doubleheader at Elizabeth City State, starting at 2 p.m.
