MOUNT OLIVE (April 1) – After multiple miscues in the field and on the base path, the University of Mount Olive softball program was swept in a doubleheader versus divisional foe Chowan on Tuesday night at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field.
With the losses, the Trojans drop to 21-15 overall with an 11-5 record in conference action. Mount Olive will look to regroup this weekend with a series scheduled against Emmanuel and No. 4 ranked Francis Marion in Pickle Town. Meanwhile, the Hawks improve to 15-18 this season behind a 6-6 mark in league play.
In Game 1, Mount Olive established the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second after freshman
Brittany Stephens delivered an RBI single to right-center. Chowan immediately responded in the top of the third with a two-out two-run homer to left-center to grab a 2-1 advantage. The Hawks continued to add to their lead in the top of the fourth with a solo homer to center field to hold a 3-1 edge.
The Trojans cut into the deficit in the bottom of the fifth as junior
Samantha Taylor produced a sacrifice fly to right field to score senior
Alyssa Smothers from third. UMO ultimately stranded the game-tying run at third following a foul out to right field to end the frame. The Trojan offense could not overcome the one-run deficit in the final two innings to fall by a 3-2 margin.
Freshman
Gracie Williams finished 2-for-3 at the plate while Millard went 1-for-3 with one walk and a stolen base.
In the circle, freshman
Linda Hodge was saddled with the loss (11-6) after surrendering three earned runs on five hits with one strikeout in 4.0 innings pitched (61 pitches). Fellow freshman
Hailey King tossed 3.0 innings of scoreless relief with two strikeouts while retiring the last eight batters for the Hawks.
In Game 2, Mount Olive jumped ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning with freshmen
Liz Thome and
Gracie Williams recording RBI singles. Chowan countered in the second frame with three runs on five hits to take the lead by a 3-2 edge. In the top of the third, the Hawks added three additional runs after capitalizing on three errors to pull in front 6-2 before adding another run via a passed ball in the fourth.
Chowan eventually opened up an 11-2 advantage in the top of the sixth before the Trojans brought across three runs on two hits in the bottom half of the frame. Hodge belted a two-run double to center field before scoring later in the inning on a fielding error, 11-5. The Hawks would score an insurance run in the seventh to seal a 12-5 win.
King suffered the loss (7-5) after yielding 12 runs (three earned) on 12 hits with three strikeouts and two walks in 7.0 innings pitched (128 pitches).
Mount Olive will continue its homestand on Friday, April 4, with a doubleheader in Conference Carolinas play versus Emmanuel at 1 p.m.
