WINGATE, N.C. (April 13) – In a non-conference doubleheader on Sunday afternoon, the Trojans were swept in a pair of narrow losses at Wingate with a 5-3 loss in Game 1 before dropping a 6-2 decision in Game 2.
With the losses, the University of Mount Olive softball program falls to 23-23 this season with a 10-10 record on the road. The Bulldogs captured a seventh-straight win in the series with the Trojans, including a pair of home sweeps. Meanwhile, Wingate improves to 33-17 overall and recently claimed its third consecutive South Atlantic Conference (SAC) regular season title.
In Game 1, Wingate established a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with a solo homer down the left-field line. Mount Olive grabbed the lead in the top of the fifth as sophomore
McKenzie Millard laced an RBI double down the left-field line before junior
Samantha Taylor belted a two-run double to center field, 3-1. The Bulldogs answered in the bottom half with four runs on four hits, highlighted by three-straight doubles, 5-3.
The Trojans stranded just one runner on base in the final two innings and ultimately fell by a 5-3 margin.
Freshman
Linda Hodge (12-9) suffered the loss after yielding five runs (four earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts and no walks in 4.1 innings (85 pitches). Junior
Bri Verme tossed 1.2 scoreless innings with two strikeouts to close out the game.
In Game 2, the Bulldogs jumped in front with a solo homer to center field in the bottom of the second before adding three runs on three hits in the third frame, 4-0. The Trojans were held to just one hit through the opening five innings before tallying three hits in the sixth but leaving the bases loaded.
Wingate stretched its advantage to 6-0 in the bottom of the sixth behind a pair of RBI doubles. In the seventh, Verme registered an RBI single through the right side with the bases loaded before senior
Alyssa Smothers drew a walk to record an RBI and cut the deficit to 6-2. The Bulldogs escaped the frame after forcing a fielder's choice for the final out.
Freshman
Hailey King (8-8) was dealt the loss after surrendering four earned runs on five hits with two walks in 2.2 innings (60 pitches). Junior
Cayden Sutton allowed two earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts in 3.1 innings of work (46 pitches).
Mount Olive closes the regular season on Wednesday, April 16, with a non-conference doubleheader at USC Beaufort, starting at 2 p.m.
