MOUNT OLIVE (April 5) – After being held to a combined two runs on eight hits on Saturday afternoon, the University of Mount Olive softball program suffered a pair of losses against No. 4 ranked Francis Marion in Conference Carolinas action on Senior Day.
With the losses, the Trojans fall to 23-17 overall with a 13-7 record in conference play. Francis Marion has won the last five meetings in the series and the two sides will meet again next weekend in Florence, South Carolina. Meanwhile, the Patriots improve to 35-3 this season behind a 15-1 mark in league action.
In Game 1, FMU established a 2-0 lead in the top of the first following a two-run homer to left field. The Patriots added to their lead in the third frame with an RBI single up the middle to hold a 3-0 edge. Mount Olive would strand a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the fourth before Francis Marion tallied a run on a sacrifice fly to right field to take a 4-0 advantage.
The Trojans would leave four combined runners on base in the final two frames before ultimately falling by a 4-0 margin.
Freshman
Linda Hodge suffered the loss (12-7), surrendering four earned runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts and one walk in 7.0 innings pitched (95 pitches)
In Game 2, FMU once again built an early lead after capitalizing on two errors to hold a 3-0 in the top of the second frame. The Patriots added to their advantage in the fourth with a solo homer to left-center and an RBI single up the middle, 5-0. UMO cut into the deficit in the bottom half of the inning with RBI singles from the freshman duo of
Liz Thome and
Emily Saw, 5-2.
Francis Marion scored four runs in the last two innings of the contest to seal the sweep, 9-2.
Junior
Samantha Taylor finished 2-for-3 at the plate with one run scored.
Freshman
Hailey King was saddled with the loss (8-6) after allowing nine runs (five earned) on 13 hits with three strikeouts and three walks in 7.0 innings (133 pitches).
The Trojans will travel to face UNC Pembroke for a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 8, in Conference Carolinas action.
