FLORENCE, S.C. (April 12) – In the Conference Carolinas regular-season finale, the University of Mount Olive softball program suffered a pair of losses at No. 4 ranked Francis Marion on Saturday afternoon with a 6-5 loss in Game 1 before dropping a 9-1 decision in Game 2.
With the losses, the Trojans drop to 23-21 overall with a 13-11 mark in conference play. Mount Olive will await the final KPI Standings to determine its seed in the league tournament as the rest of Conference Carolinas finishes play next week. Meanwhile, the Patriots extend their winning streak to 18 in a row and improve to 39-3 this season with a 19-1 record in league action.
In Game 1, Francis Marion grabbed a 1-0 lead following a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the first inning. The Patriots added to the lead in the third inning after scoring off a sacrifice fly to center field, 2-0. FMU would eventually open up a 6-0 lead after tallying four runs on four hits in the bottom of the fourth.
The Trojans rallied in the top of the sixth with a two-run double to right-center by sophomore
Laci Best before freshman
Brittany Stephens belted a two-run homer to left field, 6-4. Mount Olive cut the deficit to 6-5 in the seventh with a leadoff solo homer by junior
Bri Verme, but ultimately stranded the game-tying run at second, 6-5.
Junior
Cayden Sutton (1-3) suffered the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts and three walks in 4.0 innings (87 pitches). Verme also tossed 2.0 innings of scoreless relief with only two hits surrendered.
In Game 2, Francis Marion established a quick lead, scoring three runs on five hits in the initial two innings of play. Mount Olive countered in the top of the third with an RBI single to right field from junior
Samantha Taylor to trail by a 3-1 margin.
The Patriots would open up a 6-1 lead in the fourth with a three-run homer to left-center before winning via run-rule in the fifth with another three-run home run, 9-1.
Taylor finished 2-for-3 with one RBI while Verme went 2-for-2 at the plate.
Verme was saddled with the loss (2-3) after yielding six earned runs on eight hits with two walks in 3.0 innings (61 pitches). Freshman
Linda Hodge surrendered three earned runs on three hits with one strikeout in 1.2 innings (38 pitches).
The Trojans return to action tomorrow, Sunday, April 13, to face Wingate in a non-conference doubleheader at 1 p.m.
