DUNCAN, S.C. (March 29) – The Trojans secured their fifth consecutive conference series win with a sweep over Converse in Conference Carolinas play on Saturday afternoon with a 3-0 victory in Game 1 before capturing a 10-4 win in Game 2.
With the sweep, the University of Mount Olive softball program stretches its winning streak to double-figures with 11 and improves to 21-13 this season behind an 11-3 mark in league play. The Trojans have won eight straight games against the Valkyries while boasting a 15-1 record in the series dating back to 2016. Meanwhile, Converse drops to 13-21 overall with a 5-5 record in conference action.
In Game 1, freshman
Linda Hodge tossed her fourth complete-game shutout of the season while claiming her sixth straight win to improve to 11-5 in the circle. She allowed zero runs on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks over 7.0 innings pitched (87 pitches).
Following a pitching battle through the initial three frames of the contest, the Trojans broke the scoreless drought in the top of the fourth with a pair of runs. After UMO recorded two singles to begin the inning, Hodge capitalized with an RBI single through the left side before fellow freshman
Gracie Williams produced an RBI single to hold a 2-0 edge.
In the top of the fifth, sophomore
Laci Best launched her first homer of the season to left-center to extend the lead to 3-0. Converse stranded a combined six base runners in the final three innings, as UMO captured its second shutout of the weekend road trip.
In Game 2, junior
Samantha Taylor led the UMO offense with a 4-for-5 performance at the plate with four runs batted in and one run scored. Williams recorded a multi-hit game while freshman
Leah Russell finished 1-for-3 with four runs scored.
The Trojans tallied two runs in the top of the first with Taylor lacing an RBI single to right field while Best registered an RBI on a sacrifice bunt to score sophomore
McKenzie Millard from third, 2-0. The Valkyries trimmed the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom half of the frame with an RBI single down the left-field line.
UMO continued to add to its lead in the top of the second with a two-run RBI single up the middle by Millard before Taylor followed with another RBI single to grab a 5-1 advantage. Converse countered in the bottom half with three runs on three hits to close the gap to 5-4. In the top of the fourth, Best collected another RBI on a fielder's choice before freshman
Liz Thome hit an RBI infield single to extend the lead, 7-4. Taylor added to insurance runs in the fifth inning with a two-run single through the left side to hold a 9-4 lead, while Best blasted an RBI double to right field in the seventh to seal a 10-4 victory.
Junior
Cayden Sutton earned the win (1-2) after surrendering zero runs on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks in 5.0 innings of relief (91 pitches).
The Trojans return to Nancy Chapman Cassell Field on Tuesday, April 1, with a doubleheader versus Chowan at 5 p.m.
