BEAUFORT, S.C. (April 16) – After being limited to a combined two runs on six hits in a pair of games, the University of Mount Olive softball program was swept in a doubleheader at USC Beaufort on Wednesday afternoon.

With the losses, the Trojans drop to 23-25 overall to close out the regular season and will await the end of conference play throughout the league this week to determine seeding. Meanwhile, the Sand Sharks improve to 27-19 overall and improve to 16-2 at home.

In Game 1, USCB grabbed the early lead with an RBI double to left field in the bottom of the first, 1-0. After two scoreless frames, the Trojans tied the contest at 1-1 as junior Samantha Taylor belted an RBI double to right-center. UMO looked to take the lead in the fifth inning but left the bases loaded. The Sand Sharks delivered a go-ahead two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth frame to seal a 3-1 win.

Junior Bri Verme suffered the loss (2-4) after yielding one earned run on three hits in 4.0 innings pitched. Freshman Linda Hodge surrendered two earned runs on two hits with three strikeouts in 2.0 innings of relief.

In Game 2, USC Beaufort quickly established a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a two-run homer, 2-0. Mount Olive tallied just three hits over six frames while leaving three players in scoring position. In the top of the seventh, freshman Liz Thome launched a solo homer, her fourth of the season, to trim the deficit to 2-1. Following a walk during the next at-bat, the Sand Sharks struck out the final two batters to capture the one-run victory.

Freshman Haily King was saddled with the loss (8-9) after allowing two earned runs on two hits with one strikeout and one walk in 2.0 innings. Hodge pitched 4.0 scoreless innings in relief with one strikeout to complete the contest.